Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas was arrested Wednesday along with seven other individuals on federal charges related to an alleged high-stakes, illegal poker operation run out of a mansion in Encino, California. The seven-count indictment, unsealed in a Los Angeles federal court, details a sophisticated gambling business that prosecutors say ran from September 2021 to July 2022.
Arenas, 43, known during his playing days as “Agent Zero,” is charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, one count of operating an illegal gambling business, and one count of making false statements to federal investigators. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Arenas rented a residence in Encino for the purpose of hosting these illicit games.
The indictment alleges that the operation became a criminal enterprise because the organizers collected a “rake,” a fee taken by the house from each poker pot. The games were reportedly branded with a custom poker felt labeled “ARENAS POKER CLUB,” featuring an image of Arenas in his basketball uniform. The operation allegedly included hired staff such as chefs, valets, armed security guards, and women who served drinks and provided companionship to players in exchange for tips, from which the organizers also took a percentage.
The other defendants arrested include Yevgeni “Giora” Gershman, 49, described by prosecutors as a suspected high-level member of an Israeli transnational organized crime group. Also charged in the gambling operation are Evgenni “Eugene” Tourevski, 48; Allan “Elicia” Austria, 52; Yarin “YC” Cohen, 27; Arthur Kats, 51; and Ievgen Krachun, 43. According to the indictment, Kats staged the mansion for the games and collected rent on behalf of Arenas, while Gershman, Tourevski, Austria, and Cohen managed the games and invited players.
In addition to the gambling charges, the indictment includes accusations of marriage fraud. Gershman and another defendant, Valentina Cojocari, 35, are charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, and making false statements on immigration documents. Prosecutors allege they entered into a sham marriage in early 2022 to help Gershman, an Israeli citizen, obtain permanent legal status in the United States. Cojocari also faces charges for allegedly making false statements in an immigration application.
The arrests were carried out Wednesday without incident by agents from the Los Angeles Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Internal Revenue Service, as reported by NBC News. All defendants were expected to make their initial court appearances Wednesday afternoon. If convicted, they face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.
Arenas, a three-time NBA All-Star, had a prolific but turbulent career, primarily with the Washington Wizards. His time in the league was famously marred by a 2009 firearms incident in the team’s locker room, which resulted in a lengthy suspension. After his NBA career, which ended in 2012, Arenas became a popular and often controversial media personality, hosting the podcast “Gil’s Arena.” This latest legal trouble marks another significant off-court challenge for the former basketball star.
