Michigan Trio Accused of Violent Kidnapping Over Las Vegas Gambling Debts

Three individuals from Michigan are facing serious charges following an alleged violent kidnapping at a Las Vegas hotel, reportedly orchestrated to collect on substantial gambling debts. Issa Hamade and Ahmad Harb, both 32, and Sobhi Sobh, 33, were taken into custody on Wednesday. The charges against them include first-degree kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy, battery with intent to commit mayhem, robbery or grand larceny, and coercion through force or threats.

Alleged Hotel Room Ordeal

Court proceedings in Clark County have identified Hamade as a dentist practicing in Dearborn, Michigan. Harb is reportedly a disc jockey, and Sobh works as a physical therapist. Investigators believe the trio lured Naved Azim, a resident of New York, to a hotel room at the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip. According to a police report, Azim was subjected to a brutal assault, including being beaten, strangled, suffocated with a pillow, gagged, and confined to a closet.

Demand for Payment and Threats

Following the alleged assault, the men reportedly contacted Azim’s father, demanding $185,000 to settle gambling debts owed to Harb. However, Harb later informed investigators that the actual amount in question was $325,000. A brief video call was allegedly made to Azim’s father, showing his son in a severely beaten state, kneeling. A message conveyed during the call stated, “Listen, your son scammed me of 185K in fake sports bets. I want my money, period,” as reported by authorities.

Investigators also revealed that the men began collecting information on Azim’s family and friends, including their locations, contact details, and addresses. The report indicates that the accused threatened to harm Azim’s loved ones if the outstanding debt was not paid.

Defense Arguments and Case Development

During a court hearing, Michael Troiano, the attorney representing Hamade, asserted that his client is an upstanding citizen. Troiano suggested that Azim was involved in what he termed a fraudulent gambling scheme. He stated, “My client had absolutely zero involvement whatsoever in the bets, the conspiracy, essentially any of the alleged facts other than he was supposedly in this hotel room.”

Ryan Helmick, Sobh’s attorney, commented that there will be “a lot to uncover” as the case progresses. A representative from the Clark County public defender’s office indicated that Harb has no prior criminal record.

Background of Alleged Gambling Scheme

Azim reportedly told authorities that he engaged in sports betting with a “promoter/bookie,” which led to his acquaintance with Harb. At one point, Azim was allegedly asked by Harb to place a $2,300 bet on a New York Knicks basketball game, which was expected to yield a $20,000 payout. Azim did not place the bet but informed Harb that he had, allegedly creating a fake DraftKings sports betting ticket to support his claim, according to the police report.

As Harb continued to place bets with Azim, Azim was unable to make the wagers due to a lack of funds. Harb, however, believed that Azim had accumulated up to $100,000 in winnings. The report suggests Azim hoped Harb would eventually lose a bet, which would help conceal his deception, but this scenario did not materialize.

Bail and Court Orders

All three suspects have been granted bail set at $100,000 each. They have also been ordered to maintain no contact with Naved Azim.