Secret link between Eric Swalwell, his billionaire pal and a Penthouse Pet accused of honey trapping rich old men

Stephen Cloobeck, an eccentric, lefty billionaire who’s burned more than $1 million supporting Rep. Eric Swalwell’s run for California governor, is engaged to a Penthouse Pet and Israeli OnlyFans model who’s facing a string of criminal charges for allegedly burglarizing the homes of rich old men in Los Angeles.

The Post can reveal that Swalwell’s campaign benefactor recently became engaged to Adva Lavie, who also goes by the name Shoshana and has been accused of posing as a romantic partner or travel companion before stealing cash, gold, and high-end designer goods.

In an exclusive interview, Cloobeck told The Post that his new fiancée – whom he started dating just eight months ago – is not a “menace to society” but rather a victim like himself.

“The story is twisted. Her story has not been told,” Cloobeck said.

“She has been abused. I’m a man that has been abused by women. You don’t think I’ve done my homework?”

Adva Lavie has also gone by the aliases Shoshana and Mia Ventura in recent years. Getty Images

Prosecutors say Adva Lavie, who got engaged last month to billionaire Stephen Cloobeck, burglarized rich, old men.

The alleged honeytrapper is set to be arraigned Monday on six felony charges, including two counts of grand theft, two counts of burglary and two counts of unauthorized use of personal identifying information.

Cloobeck and Shoshana’s engagement party was held in March at Cloobeck’s $26 million home – the same Beverly Hills mansion where Swalwell has been posting promotional videos for his campaign while missing votes in Congress.

Social media posts show Swalwell appears to have visited Cloobeck’s palatial 9,700-square-foot estate numerous times since September.

Rep. Eric Swalwell has also benefited from his close relationship with eccentric billionaire Stephen Cloobeck. Getty Images

A luxury real estate listing for the home notes that it is “double gated,” presumably to keep criminals out. But it now appears the full house has also included a woman with an ankle monitor.

Prosecutors allege that between 2023 and 2025, Lavie used dating apps to cultivate relationships with wealthy older men and younger women across Los Angeles County, including in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Lavie “exploited trust built through online relationships to gain access to victims’ homes and steal from them.”

Adva Lavie, who now uses the name Shoshana Cloobeck on Instagram, is set to stand trial this month. Facebook/Queen Mia

However, Cloobeck scoffed at the charges filed by Hochman.

“I’m very disappointed my dear friend Nathan Hochman, and my lawyer David Hochman, did not tell me she’s a menace to society,” Cloobeck told the Post.

“Many politicians have met her.”

DA Nathan Hochman charged with Adva Lavie with crimes.

Swalwell also seems to be on friendly terms with Cloobeck’s alleged honey-trapper fiancée, with congressman following her on Instagram. He’s also spent extended time at Cloobeck’s 9,700-square-foot mansion, raising questions about whether he actually has a residency in California.

Neighbors in Livermore, where Swalwell claims residency, told The Post they’ve never seen the congressman.

“Eric told me when I met her, because he’s a prosecutor: ‘Do your homework, Stephen,’” Cloobeck told The Post, adding that he did a “deep, deep, deep dive.”

Cloobeck posted an Instagram video last month showing himself turning around in a crowded room while holding a microphone and saying: “Shoshana, would you be my wife?” Through a squinted smile she said “yes” to Cloobeck before repeating the word in Hebrew.

The couple are planning to get married on June 18 near the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Cloobeck told The Post in a text message.

Adva Lavie, now going by the name Shoshana, accepted Stephen Cloobeck’s proposal. Instagram/@stephenjcloobeck

Stephen Cloobeck provided this image of his save-the-date invite for his wedding in Jerusalem.

Cloobeck said his fiancée was involved in the dark underbelly of Los Angeles society, where rich men pay hundreds of dollars to women to join them at dinner.

The expectation is at least one of the women will then go home with the man.

“These predators think they get something for it,” Cloobeck said. “It’s gross, it’s disgusting.”

“I never even knew this world existed. There is this whole underbelly of this craziness.”

Detective Angela Lopez, who investigated Lavie’s case, told the Post that the alleged honeytrapper committed crimes against eight victims and showed no remorse.

If convicted on all counts, Lavie faces up to 11 years and eight months in state prison. Lavie has previously pleaded not guilty on all charges.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office put out a picture of Adva Lavie last fall before she was arrested.

Cloobeck, who declined to say if he is paying for his fiancée’s lawyers, suggested the defense will note the trauma Lavie has experienced, from being raped at age 17 to being abused by her father.

“It’s a story of abuse, and a story of a woman being accused by an obsessed elderly man,” Cloobeck said. “And believe me, I was so cautious.”

Adva Lavie has also gone by the aliases Mia Ventura and Shoshana in the past. Getty Images for TEATRO Live

Chanse Corbi, a social media influencer who appeared on season four of “Love Island USA,” called out Lavie in two TikTok videos this month, saying she stole clothes, purses, and money from her and others.

“I know so many people who have been personally affected, including myself, by this girl,” Corbi said.

“Did this guy not do any background research on her? Did he not look her up at all?”

​Corbi added, “Billionaires are smart; they don’t just let people con them out of their money. So, either he really just didn’t know, and that’s kind of dumb, or he knew and just didn’t care, which is even worse.”

Adva Lavie’s modeling career gave her notoriety, but her alleged crimes have made her notorious. Facebook/Queen Mia

Lavie’s newly discovered relationship with Cloobeck and Swalwell adds another layer of intrigue.

Cloobeck, the founder of Diamond Resorts and a multiple guest star on the TV show “Undercover Boss,” not only gave Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign a max contribution of $39,200, but he also threw $1 million into an independent committee supporting Swalwell.

“I’m the one who convinced him to get into the race,” Cloobeck told The Post.

Beyond campaign support, Swalwell reported last year that Cloobeck gifted him a $31,000 trip to France.

Rep. Eric Swalwell follows Shoshana Cloobeck on Instagram and he frequently stays at the Beverly Hills mansion. AP

Swalwell’s campaign did not respond to The Post’s emailed questions about the congressman’s relationship with Cloobeck and his fiancée.  

As for the pending nuptials, Cloobeck’s dating history suggests the billionaire’s engagement to an alleged honeytrapper may not end well.

He is divorced and has had multiple relationships in recent years that ended with lawsuits.

After just eight months of dating Lavie, Cloobeck thinks this time will be different.

“I don’t think anything’s [moving] fast,” Cloobeck said. “Guess what, I have a life to lead.”

In an interview with the San Francisco Standard last year, Cloobeck said that he’d previously been the “victim of a cunning serial fraudster.” He now seems content to once again be playing a dicey game of relationship roulette.

“Love is love,” he said.