A former Playboy model with glamorous online persona is facing criminal accusations after authorities say she preyed on older men by posing as their girlfriend before robbing them of cash, jewelry, and credit cards.
Adva Lavie, 28, is accused of orchestrating a calculated scheme that spanned across Los Angeles County, using dating apps to identify and befriend elderly men, only to later burglarize their homes.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Lavie “has been involved in a series of residential burglaries throughout the Los Angeles area.”
Investigators say she used various social media platforms to connect with victims, targeting those who were older and financially secure.
So far, 10 men in Malibu and throughout the county have allegedly fallen victim to Lavie’s operation.
Authorities released a public statement seeking additional information and urging other potential victims to come forward.
“Suspect Lavie has been involved in a series of residential burglaries throughout LA County, targeting older men and posing as a girlfriend or companion on social media dating platforms and applications,” the department wrote.
Lavie is said to have used several aliases, including Mia Ventura, Shoshana, and Shana.
Her glamorous image as a model and influencer reportedly helped her lure unsuspecting victims.
Local reports note that Lavie appeared in Playboy and Penthouse magazines and is an OnlyFans model, according to KTLA.
Authorities described Lavie as standing 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing around 105 pounds, with dark hair and brown eyes.
She reportedly drives both a black Porsche SUV and a white Mercedes-Benz sedan.
Jail records indicate she was previously arrested in May on a felony charge before posting bond, though it remains unclear whether that case is related to the current investigation.
Michael Sartain, host of the podcast “Access Vegas,” recalled his encounters with Lavie and alleged she had a habit of manipulating men into giving her money and, at times, resorting to theft.
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“She’s a saleswoman. Makes it feel normal that you gift her money on a regular basis,” Sartain told KTLA.
“For the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to come after her, isn’t surprising, it just means she couldn’t stop stealing.”
Sartain claimed that Lavie, whom he knew under one of her aliases, once appeared on an election night episode of his podcast.
During the recording, he said, she briefly disappeared before returning as if nothing happened.
Later, guests discovered that cash and credit cards had gone missing.
“She basically sits there for 90 minutes having stolen everyone’s credit cards and everyone’s cash out of their purses in the green room, just the female guests,” Sartain commented.
“And she just sat there cool as a cucumber just talking about the election while she had everyone’s stuff in her purse just sitting right behind her.”
Since the department’s public appeal, investigators say they have received numerous calls from potential victims.
Capt. Dustin Karr of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the investigation began roughly two weeks ago after one man came forward with a report.
“We’ve been getting dozens of calls,” Karr commented. “There’s been a lot of follow-ups from victims to our detectives.”
According to Karr, detectives learned that Lavie has faced prior charges from the Los Angeles Police Department involving similar crimes.
While her primary focus appeared to be wealthy, older men, the detective said investigators have since found victims “across several demographics.”
He described her method as a calculated and ongoing pattern that extended beyond a single jurisdiction.
Authorities believe Lavie would take advantage of her victims’ trust by visiting their homes, where she allegedly stole valuables, cash, and credit cards, which are all items that could easily be concealed or quickly sold.
“If there’s any victims out there that’d like to come forward, we’re respecting your confidentiality,” Karr noted.
“We understand the sensitive nature of what has occurred, and we just want our victims to come forward and feel confident in telling us what happened to them and their story.”
When contacted by The Daily Mail, Lavie reportedly denied the allegations, suggesting instead that she was the target of a powerful adversary.
“I think when you probably hang out with someone really powerful and someone really connected, if you p— them off, it’s problematic because they can really f— you over,” she explained.
Authorities have not disclosed whether Lavie faces new charges following the latest reports, but investigators continue to compile evidence linking her to a string of thefts throughout the region.
Meanwhile, in a separate case with similarities to Lavie’s alleged crimes, Florida police arrested 25-year-old Angelina Chenel Esty, accusing her of drugging men and stealing their luxury watches.
Esty faces counts of burglary of an occupied dwelling and grand theft between $20,000 and $100,000, according to the Miami Police Department.
Police say the incident occurred on August 9, when a man reported that his $20,000 Rolex, $4,000 in cash, and a friend’s $1,000 replica watch had been stolen after he met Esty and another woman at a Miami bar.
Surveillance footage allegedly placed Esty at the scene, and the man later identified her from a photo lineup. Investigators also claim the victim’s friend discovered an unauthorized $500 Cash App transaction.
Police say the victim recalled little from the night and believed he had been drugged.
Detectives in Miami described Esty as a “known offender with prior arrests for similar bad date thefts.”
Earlier this year, she turned herself in to police in Doral in connection with three similar cases dating back to March.
She is scheduled to appear in court for her arraignment on October 24.
