Podcaster close to model/influencer accused in Indio grand theft speaks out

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) - A former colleague of Adva Lavie, a model and influencer arrested for grand theft in Riverside and LA counties, is speaking out about his interaction with the woman.

Michael Sartain, a podcast host based in Las Vegas, says he hosted Lavie, who went by the alias 'Mia Ventura' on his show Access Vegas Live. During the 2024 election episode, Sartain accuses Lavie of stealing the credit cards and cash of fellow panelists while on the show. 

"She gets up and she walks out and goes into the greenroom. I'm looking at the producer and I'm like, what is she doing? It was very strange. She comes back and stays, then there's a window sill behind her and there's her purse. In that purse is all of the other panelists' credit cards and cash that she had stolen from the green room. We know that because I talked to them all afterwards and they were all like, yeah, she stole our stuff," Sartain said.

Sartain says while none of the women pressed charges, they did find several charges on cards after they believe they were stolen by Lavie.

"The next day, she goes to a salon and she uses a girl who's on the show, her credit card to book the appointment," Sartain said.

Lavie was arrested last week for two separate grand theft investigations in Indio that occurred on April 12, 2025, at the same Airbnb rental located in the 43000 block of Spiaggia Place in Indio during the Coachella Music and Arts Festival.

Indio PD say Lavie stole $25,000 in property from a victim she was sharing an Airbnb room with. In a second incident, they say she stole a Rolex, Louis Vuitton sunglasses and cardholder totaling around $10,000.

Police said both incidents involved separate victims who reported valuable personal property stolen after spending time with the suspect, whom they had met through social connections.

Lavie is now facing upwards of 7 felony charges across LA and Riverside County. She appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom last week, as her lawyers said they're prepared to fight her case.

"Adva has gone through a lot in her life. She's a work in progress. She is not perfect. She's made mistakes, but she's doing the best she can," Defense attorney Jeremy Lessem said.

A data for Lavie's arraignment has not been set yet by the Riverside County District Attorney.

Authorities said Lavie's charges in LA County are separate from the Indio Police Department's investigation and should not be conflated with the Riverside County case.

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