Three men from Michigan were taken into custody Wednesday in connection with a violent kidnapping at a prominent Las Vegas hotel, where authorities say they tortured a victim to collect on substantial gambling debts. The suspects allegedly beat, strangled, and confined a New York resident in a hotel room while demanding payment exceeding $180,000. The case highlights growing concerns about illegal gambling operations and debt collection tactics that cross state lines.
Issa Hamade, 32, Ahmad Harb, 32, and Sobhi Sobh, 33, face multiple serious charges including first-degree kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy, battery with intent to commit mayhem, robbery or grand larceny, and coercion with force or threats. During court proceedings in Clark County, prosecutors revealed the professional backgrounds of the defendants: Hamade works as a dentist in Dearborn, Michigan, Harb operates as a disc jockey, and Sobh is employed as a physical therapist.
Victim lured to MGM Grand and subjected to brutal assault
According to a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department report, the three suspects orchestrated a plan to lure Naved Azim, a New York resident, to a hotel room at the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip. Once inside the room, Azim was subjected to a horrific ordeal that included repeated beatings, strangulation, suffocation with a pillow, and being gagged before the men stuffed him into a closet. The violence escalated as the suspects attempted to extract payment for what they claimed were outstanding gambling debts.
The attackers initially demanded $185,000 from Azim’s father to cover gambling debts allegedly owed to Harb. However, during subsequent interviews with investigators, Harb claimed the actual amount owed was $325,000, significantly higher than the original demand. The discrepancy in the amounts raises questions about the nature of the debt and the legitimacy of the claims made by the suspects.
Family threatened through video call and social media surveillance
To pressure Azim’s family into paying, the suspects made a short video call to his father, forcing the victim to appear on his knees while visibly injured. The message delivered during the call was direct and threatening. One of the suspects stated on camera that Azim had scammed him of $185,000 in fake sports bets and demanded immediate payment. The visual evidence of their son’s battered condition was clearly intended to motivate swift compliance with their demands.
The intimidation tactics extended beyond the immediate victim. Investigators reported that the suspects began taking photos of contact information, addresses, and locations of Azim’s family members and friends. The men explicitly threatened to harm these individuals if the debt remained unpaid. This expansion of threats to include people not directly involved in the gambling dispute demonstrates the calculated nature of the extortion scheme.
Defense attorneys claim victim ran fraudulent betting operation
During Wednesday’s court hearing, defense attorney Michael Troiano, representing Hamade, characterized his client as an upstanding citizen and alleged that Azim was involved in a fraudulent gambling scheme. Troiano claimed his client had zero involvement in the bets or conspiracy and was merely present in the hotel room. The defense strategy appears to center on shifting responsibility to the victim and questioning the circumstances that led to the confrontation.
Ryan Helmick, representing Sobh, told the court that significant facts remain to be uncovered in the case. A representative from the Clark County public defender’s office noted that Harb has no criminal record. These defense statements suggest the legal teams will challenge the prosecution’s narrative and potentially argue their clients were attempting to recover legitimate debts through methods that escalated beyond their intentions.
Victim allegedly created fake betting tickets to cover losses
According to statements Azim gave to authorities, the situation began when he made sports bets with a promoter or bookie, which led to his introduction to Harb. At one point, Harb asked Azim to place a $2,300 bet on a New York Knicks basketball game that eventually would have paid out $20,000. However, Azim admitted to police that he never actually placed the bet but told Harb that he had. To maintain the deception, Azim allegedly created a fake DraftKings sports betting ticket to make it appear the wager had been placed.
The fraudulent scheme continued as Harb kept placing additional bets through Azim, who failed to make the actual wagers due to insufficient funds. Harb remained unaware of the deception and believed he had accumulated approximately $100,000 in winning bets. Azim told investigators he hoped Harb would eventually lose a bet, which would help conceal his failure to place the original wagers. That losing bet never materialized, leading to the discovery of the fraud and the subsequent violent confrontation.
Suspects released on bail with strict conditions
Following their court appearance, all three suspects were each granted $100,000 bail. The judge ordered them to have no contact whatsoever with Azim as a condition of their release. The case remains under investigation as prosecutors build their case for trial. The charges carry substantial prison sentences if the defendants are convicted, particularly the first-degree kidnapping charge, which is among the most serious felonies in Nevada law.
The incident underscores the dangers associated with illegal gambling operations and the violent methods some individuals employ to collect debts outside the legal system. Sports betting has expanded dramatically across the United States in recent years, with Nevada maintaining its position as a central hub for gambling activity. Cases involving fraud and violent debt collection continue to challenge law enforcement agencies working to distinguish between legitimate disputes and criminal enterprises operating under the guise of gambling debts.
