Two Ohio brothers, including an Air Force veteran-turned-influencer, have been sentenced to one month in jail in the United Arab Emirates for alcohol consumption. The strict enforcement of alcohol laws in the UAE led to their arrest during a touristic visit in June, as reported by the organization Detained in Dubai. , who were in the UAE to create content, found themselves in legal trouble after a night out on June 2.
According to Detained in Dubai, the brothers claimed they were drugged at a yacht party they were invited to by a local resident. Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, stated that the brothers were targeted by scammers after attending two separate afterparties where they were forced to pay hefty bills. Joseph Lopez, currently Mister Louisiana in the , traveled to the UAE with his brother on May 25, intending to showcase the luxury of Dubai.
Their troubles began after a night out at nightclub Bla Bla, where an Uber driver offered to take them to an afterparty. They were served food and drinks they didn't order and later faced a massive bill. "They were clearly targeted by scammers," Stirling said.
After deciding to end the night, the brothers were approached by a man who invited them to a yacht party, assuring them they were "American guests" and wouldn't have to spend more money. However, onboard the yacht, they were given drinks and later charged $2,722. After being offered another drink by a woman, the brothers claimed they lost consciousness.
Joseph Lopez.