LAS VEGAS, NV – Three Michigan men, including a dentist and a physical therapist, are facing multiple felony charges after allegedly kidnapping and brutally beating a man inside an MGM Grand hotel room over a sports betting dispute.
The Arrest and Charges
Issa Hamade, 32, Ahmad Harb, 32, and Sobhi Sobh, 33, were arrested by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The trio faces a slew of severe charges, including:
- First-degree kidnapping
- Extortion and conspiracy
- Battery with intent to commit mayhem
- Coercion with force or threats
During Clark County court proceedings, Hamade was identified as a dentist from Dearborn, Michigan, Sobh as a physical therapist, and Harb as a disc jockey.
A Violent Extortion Plot
According to police reports, the suspects lured the victim, Naved Azim of New York, to a room at the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip. Once inside, Azim was allegedly beaten, strangled, suffocated with a pillow, gagged, and stuffed into a closet.
The men then placed a video call to Azim’s father, showing his badly beaten son on his knees to demand cash. Police state the suspects threatened to track down and harm Azim’s family and friends if the debt was not paid. Harb initially claimed the debt was $185,000 from sports bets, though he later told investigators the total owed was $325,000.
The Fake Betting Scheme
The investigation revealed the dispute stemmed from a series of fraudulent sports wagers. Azim admitted to police that he acted as a bookie but failed to actually place a $2,300 bet Harb requested on a New York Knicks game. When the bet won a $20,000 payout, Azim faked a DraftKings betting ticket to cover his lie.
Azim continued to accept fake wagers from Harb, hoping Harb would eventually lose a bet to clear the balance. Instead, Harb’s winning streak continued, accumulating a massive fictional payout that Azim could not cover.
Court Proceedings
Defense attorneys argued there is more to uncover, with Hamade’s lawyer stating his client had “zero involvement” in the conspiracy and was simply present in the room. A public defender noted that Harb has no prior criminal record.
A Clark County judge granted each of the three suspects a $100,000 bail and strictly ordered them to have no contact with the victim.
