Meddling backfires
The high-profile sports-betting consultant known to millions of social media followers as “Vegas Dave” is on the hook for around $30.2m. That is the amount District Judge Timothy Williams fined David Oancea for shooting his mouth off.
Judge Williams’ substantial penalty comes after Vegas-native Oancea allegedly used his fame to launch “a campaign of damaging accusations against an upscale vacation-rental company,” the Mexico-based Cabo Platinum.
thrust the influencer into the media spotlight
Las Vegas Locally recently took to X with news of the July legal ruling which Oancea appealed against. A Clark County Court hearing last week thrust the influencer into the media spotlight once more as the Judge denied the appeal:
According to reports, Oancea’s muck-raking campaign against Cabo grew out of a dispute over the management of his luxury Los Cabos properties.
Words come back
The judgment noted that the influencer made false allegations about Cabo and its owners, highlighting particuarly the obscene rants Oancea posted publicy regarding the firm.
According to reports, Oancea “fashioned himself as a rival Cabo villa-rental influencer” and warned people not to book with the firm.
Cabo alleges the conflict began when Oancea abruptly terminated the rental agreement he had with the company and canceled approximately 24 pre-paid bookings, including for weddings.
Oancea, whose sports betting fame was boosted by a profile of him on Showtime docuseries Action, allegedly even “blocked guests from accessing the properties” while hanging on to their rental deposits.
highly disparaging” emails
Judge Williams ruled that Oancea had intentionally meddled with contracts and directed an abusive campaign of “highly disparaging” emails against the Cabo owners. Williams in his written decision stated Oancea’s conduct “has been despicable and has subjected Cabo Platinum to cruel and unjust hardship with an apparent conscious disregard for Cabo Platinum’s rights.”
The ruling stated, “There is no question Oancea has acted with the intent to harm Cabo Platinum and its reputation.”
Attorneys out for assets
While Oancea is appealing the devastating fine, Cabo’s attorneys have already moved to demand subpoenas and garnishment to identify and locate the influencer’s assets that “might satisfy” the $30.2m award.
The legal saga, which began May 2024 before blowing up publicly last week, is expected to take up more Clark County courtroom time as both sides remain active in pressing filings.
Oancea has criminal form in the state, having pleaded guilty in 2019 to a record keeping violation, which earned him probation and “a temporary ban from Nevada sportsbooks.”
