Ex-governor candidate Cloobeck charged with witness tampering in Malibu case Play

There's a Malibu connection to the arrest of a former candidate for governor of California on charges of witness tampering.

The arrest of Steve Cloobeck yesterday is related to Mia Ventura — the woman accused of trying to, ahem, make friends with older men in Malibu, the Conejo Valley and Beverly Hills.

Cloobeck was charged by prosecutors with two felony counts for trying to intimidate victims into not testifying against his girlfriend, Mia Ventura. The charges stem from an investigation by the Malibu/Lost Hills sheriff's station, and some of the victims lived in Malibu.

Cloobeck is or was romantically involved with Adva Lavie — a woman who goes by several aliases, most notably Mia Ventura. She is facing seven felony charges for defrauding men whom she had met online and then allegedly stole from.

Cloobeck is a billionaire resort owner formerly from Las Vegas. He had been one of dozens of candidates for governor but dropped out and endorsed Eric Swalwell.

He is free awaiting trial after having posted $300,000 bail, according to the sheriff's department.

The woman is accused of meeting men and women online and burglarizing their homes. Detectives say she posed as a girlfriend or travel companion, then stole cash, credit cards and high-end designer items.