March 29, 2024

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Bouchard “brother imposter” arrested in Miami

NEW YORK – Genie Bouchard has enough to worry about, with her on-court winless streak now at 10 consecutive tournaments.

But another issue was added to the pile Sunday.  According to an exclusive report from WSVN Miami, a 24-year-old named Solomon Shlomo Azari was arrested at the luxury hotel/apartment complex Bouchard lives in, in Miami.

Azari, who according to the story made bail, likely will be charged with organized fraud of $20,000 or less, second-degree grand theft (between $20,000 and $100,000) and fraudulent use of personal identification information.

Oh, and possession of cocaine, as some was allegedly found on him when he was arrested.

The gossip site TMZ picked this one up quickly.

Posing as Bouchard’s brother

This fellow allegedly has been having a grand ol’ time on Bouchard’s dime – at her home.

Over a period of two months, Azari allegedly ate at the restaurant and drank at the rooftop bar at the luxury hotel/apartment complex Bouchard lives in, in Miami.

According to the WSVN story, he ran up a bill of close to $42,000 US during a two-month period this spring – a period that for the most part coincided with the time the Canadian was in Europe for the French Open and Wimbledon.

Despite the abject lack of resemblance, Azari was reportedly able to charge all the libations to Bouchard’s house account by … posing as her brother.

Azari, per Google, is the co-owner of a smoke shop in Miami and also the co-founder of a Latin music festival.

According to Fox News, which obtained a copy of the arrest affidavit, Bouchard was shown a photo of Azari, said she did not recognize him, and that he was not authorized to sign on her tab.

The affidavit, according to Fox, states that the hotel/condo resort did not smell a rat until “a representative for Bouchard called to dispute $29,000 in charges on her house account on July 30.”

The hotel began an investigation. But in the meantime, another $13,000 was charged to Bouchard’s account.  

Azari was arrested on Sunday, per Fox when he – get this – brought two friends for dinner at the restaurant. We’ll give him points for chutzpah. If not much else.

*Editor’s note: This is a corrected version of the original story, to clarify that Bouchard has confirmed to police that she did not recognize the man arrested in this case, when shown the photo. Our original piece implied otherwise.*

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