Three men from Michigan face multiple charges related to the kidnapping of a man over alleged gambling debts in Las Vegas. Issa Hamade, Ahmad Harb, and Sobhi Sobh were arrested on suspicion of various serious offenses, including first-degree kidnapping, extortion, and robbery, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Court records in Clark County reveal Hamade is a dentist from Dearborn, Michigan. Harb works as a disc jockey, and Sobh is a physical therapist. These individuals allegedly lured New York resident Naved Azim to a room at the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip, as per the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department report.
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The report details that Azim was subjected to physical violence. He was beaten, strangled, and suffocated with a pillow before being gagged and placed in a closet. The perpetrators demanded $185,000 from Azim’s father to settle gambling debts owed to Harb. However, Harb later claimed the actual amount was $325,000.
A video call was made to Azim’s father, showing his injured son. In the video, the message stated, “Listen, your son scammed me of 185K in fake sports bets. I want my money, period,” according to police information.
Police also reported that the men collected photos and contact details of Azim’s family and friends, threatening harm if they failed to pay the alleged debt.
During court, Hamade’s lawyer, Michael Troiano, portrayed him as an upstanding citizen, asserting that Azim participated in a fraudulent gambling operation. Sobh’s attorney, Ryan Helmick, mentioned that the case facts are yet to be fully uncovered. The Clark County public defender’s office noted that Harb has no criminal history.
Fox News Digital contacted the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the legal teams involved for remarks. Prosecutors charged the three men with kidnapping and assaulting Azim in a Las Vegas hotel as a result of gambling debts.
Azim informed authorities that he placed sports bets through a “promoter/bookie,” leading to his encounter with Harb. Harb requested Azim to bet $2,300 on a New York Knicks game, which could have yielded $20,000. Azim never placed the bet but deceived Harb with a fake DraftKings sports betting ticket, police reported.
Despite this, Harb continued to wager with Azim, who could not fulfill the bets due to financial constraints, leading Harb to believe he secured $100,000 in winning bets.
Ultimately, Harb’s assumption that Azim would eventually lose a bet that would cover the false bets never materialized.
Judges set bail for each suspect at $100,000 with orders to avoid contact with Azim.