Three Michigan Men Charged with Kidnapping, Beating and Extorting Man at MGM Grand Over $185,000 in Alleged Gambling Debts

Issa Hamade, 32, Ahmad Harb, 32, and Sobhi Sobh, 33, were booked Wednesday at the Clark County Detention Center on charges of first-degree kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy, battery with intent to commit mayhem, robbery or grand larceny, and coercion with force or threats, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which reported the story June 19, 2026.

The victim is identified as Naved Azim, a New York resident, according to Gambling911. Police say the three men lured Azim to a room at the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip, where he was allegedly beaten, strangled, suffocated with a pillow, gagged, and stuffed into a closet.

The suspects then reportedly put Azim on a video call to his father, showing him beaten and on his knees. The message, according to police, was direct: "Listen, your son scammed me of 185K in fake sports bets. I want my money, period."

After the video call, the men allegedly demanded $185,000 from Azim's father and threatened to harm other family members if the money was not paid, per Gambling911. Police also said messages threatening to kill Azim if the money was not paid by end of day were sent to his father.

Who These Men Are

Hamade was identified in Las Vegas Justice Court proceedings as a dentist from Dearborn, Michigan, according to the Review-Journal. Gambling911 reported his practice is based in Livonia, Michigan. Harb works as a disc jockey. Sobh is employed as a physical therapist.

All three made initial appearances in Las Vegas Justice Court on Thursday, as photographed and reported by the Review-Journal's Glenn Puit.

The Alleged Scheme

Police say this started with fake sports bets. According to the Review-Journal, Azim told authorities he had been engaged in sports bets with a promoter/bookie, which led to him meeting Harb. Harb asked Azim to place a $2,300 bet on a New York Knicks basketball game with the potential for a large payout. Azim never placed the bet but told Harb that he did, then created a fake DraftKings sports betting ticket to reflect the bet, according to police. The gambling debt may have been even higher than $185,000 — Harb told police after his arrest that Azim owed him $325,000.

Whether Azim actually committed fraud has not been charged or adjudicated. The allegation of a prior debt is the suspects' stated justification, not a legal finding.

The way the suspects allegedly responded to that grievance is the criminal matter now before Nevada courts.

The Strongest Counterpoint

If Azim did defraud these men through fake sports bets, they were victims of a serious crime themselves, left with limited recourse and a large financial loss. Hamade's attorney, Michael Troiano, said during the initial court appearance that his client is an upstanding citizen and that Azim was involved in what he described in court as a fraudulent gambling scheme. "My client had absolutely zero involvement whatsoever in the bets, the conspiracy, essentially any of the alleged facts other than he was supposedly in this hotel room," Troiano said, per the Review-Journal. A representative of the Clark County public defenders office said Harb has no criminal record. Sobh's attorney, Ryan Helmick, said there's going to be a lot to uncover regarding the facts of the case.

Nevada law does not recognize a debt collection justification for violent kidnapping. Whatever Azim may or may not have done to these men has no legal bearing on first-degree kidnapping charges.

What They're Facing

First-degree kidnapping is among Nevada's most serious felonies. All three men face potential life sentences if convicted, according to Gambling911.

Hamade faces an additional professional consequence. Under Michigan Board of Dentistry rules and the state's professional licensing statutes, a felony conviction, particularly for a violent crime, is grounds for license suspension, revocation, or probation with restrictions, per Gambling911.

No bail amounts or trial dates were reported in the available sources.

On Sourcing

Fox News covered this story but provided no substantive new detail beyond what the Review-Journal and Gambling911 reported. The Fox headline accurately describes the core allegations. The Review-Journal's on-the-ground reporting from Glenn Puit, including courtroom photographs and named attorney Michael Troiano representing Hamade, is the most granular account available.

What Comes Next

The unresolved question that matters most: whether Naved Azim will face any separate investigation into the alleged fake-sports-bet fraud that the suspects claim triggered this confrontation. If prosecutors pursue only the kidnapping case and Azim's alleged conduct is never examined, the suspects' defense attorneys have a ready narrative for court. If Azim is separately investigated and charged, the picture becomes considerably more complicated for everyone involved.