A Michigan trio is accused of setting a trap for a New York man inside a room at the MGM Grand, then assaulting him over what they claimed was more than $300,000 in unpaid Las Vegas gambling debts.
Police said Naved Azim was beaten, choked, gagged and forced into a closet during the violent incident on Wednesday.
The suspects — Issa Hamade, 32; Ahmad Harb, 32; and Sobhi Sobh, 33 — allegedly claimed Azim owed Harb money for bets placed on his behalf, though investigators described the situation as a suspicious gambling scheme.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the men allegedly forced Azim to his knees and made a video call to his father while demanding repayment.
“Listen, your son scammed me out of 185k in fake sports bets. I want my money, period,” Harb allegedly wrote to Azim’s father, police said.
Harb, who works as a disc jockey, later allegedly told officers that Azim’s debt was actually $325,000.
Authorities said the suspects also photographed Azim’s family members and friends, recorded their addresses, and threatened to target his loved ones if he failed to produce the money.
Azim told investigators he had begun making sports wagers through a “promoter/bookie,” a connection that eventually introduced him to Harb, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Harb then allegedly began asking Azim to place bets for him.
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At one point, Azim was allegedly supposed to place a $2,300 bet on Harb’s behalf on a Knicks game — winning him a $20,000 payout.
But Azim told cops he never actually placed the bet, the newspaper reported.
Azim allegedly went as far as to create fake DraftKings sports betting tickets to back up his lies.
Harb continued placing bets through Azim and tallied up what was supposed to be massive winnings, police said.
Meanwhile, Azim told police he hoped Harb would eventually lose a bet, which would help cover up the lie. But Harb’s luck allegedly didn’t run out and he kept winning.
Hamade, Harb and Sobh were arrested on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy, battery with intent to commit mayhem, robbery or grand larceny, and coercion with force or threats.
Michael Troiano, Hamade’s lawyer, said in court Wednesday that his client, who is a dentist, has a squeaky clean record and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Attorney Ryan Helmick, representing Sobh, a physical therapist, said there is “going to be a lot to uncover” in the convoluted case.
Two of the three suspects had posted bond and were awaiting release Saturday, authorities said. The suspects were ordered not to contact Azim.
Vegas police did not immediately return a request for comment.
