3 Michigan men charged in violent kidnapping at MGM Grand in Las Vegas

Three Michigan men are facing a slew of charges related to the violent kidnapping of a man who allegedly owed a gambling debt at a Las Vegas hotel, according to reports.

Issa Hamade and Ahmad Harb, both 32, and Sobhi Sobh, 33, were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy, battery with intent to create disorder, robbery or grand theft, and coercion by force or threat, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

During court hearings in Clark County, it was determined that Hamade was a dentist from Dearborn, Michigan, Harb worked as a disc jockey, and Sobh worked as a physical therapist.

The trio allegedly lured Naved Azim, who lives in New York, into a hotel room at the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip, according to a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department report cited by the newspaper.

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Azim was then beaten, strangled, smothered with a pillow, gagged, and stuffed in a closet. Police said the men then demanded $185,000 from Azim’s father to cover gambling debts to Harb. But Harb later told investigators the amount owed to him was $325,000.

The report stated that a short video call was made to Azim’s father to show him his son being badly beaten on his knees.

“Listen, your son scammed me out of $185,000 through fake sports betting. I want my money, period,” the message said, according to police.

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“The men started taking photographs of the locations, contact details and addresses of Naved’s family and friends,” police said. “The men stated that they would harm Naved’s family and friends if he did not pay his debt.”

At Wednesday’s hearing, Hamade’s lawyer, Michael Troiano, said his client was an upstanding citizen and was involved in what Azim described in court as a fraudulent gambling scheme, the newspaper reported.

A casino in Las Vegas, Nev., on June 1, 2020. (Joe Buglewicz/Bloomberg)

“My client has absolutely zero interest in the betting, the conspiracy, essentially zero interest in the alleged facts other than the claim that he was in this hotel room,” Troiano said.

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Sobh’s attorney, Ryan Helmick, said “there will be a lot to uncover” about the facts of the case. A representative from the Clark County public defender’s office said Harb had no criminal record, the newspaper reported.

Fox News Digital has reached out to LVMPD, as well as Hamade and Sobh legal teams and the Clark County public defender’s office, for comment.

Three people have been charged in connection with the alleged kidnapping and beating of a man in a Las Vegas hotel room over a gambling debt. (iStock)

Azim told authorities he placed sports bets with a “promoter/bookmaker,” which led to him meeting Harb. At one point, Harb asked Azim to place a $2,300 bet on a New York Knicks basketball game, which eventually resulted in a $20,000 winnings.

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Azim never placed a bet but told Harb he did, and allegedly told police, according to the report.

“Naved did not tell Harb that the bet had never been placed and decided to create a fake DraftKings sports betting ticket to reflect the bet,” police said.

A large neon casino and liquor sign illuminates the Fremont Street promenade on January 12, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (iStock)

Police said Harb continued to place bets with Azim, who was unable to place bets due to lack of money. Harb continued to believe his winning bets were as high as $100,000.

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“Naved believed that Harb would eventually lose a bet that would help cover up his betting lie; but this did not happen,” police said.

All three suspects were released on $100,000 bail and were ordered to have no contact with Azim.