Former NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Arrested in Federal Bust of High-Stakes Poker Ring
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas has been arrested on a federal indictment for his alleged role in a high-stakes illegal poker ring operated out of a mansion he owned in Encino. The bust also ensnared five other individuals, including a man suspected of being a high-level member of an Israeli transnational organized crime group.
The Encino Mansion Operation
According to the indictment, which was unsealed today, the illegal gambling business ran from September 2021 to July 2022. Arenas, 43, allegedly rented out his Encino mansion specifically to host the poker games.
He is accused of directing an associate to stage the home for the events and collect rent from the game’s organizers on his behalf.
The operation was a professional setup. The indictment alleges that co-defendants managed illegal “Pot Limit Omaha” games, collecting a “rake” from each pot. They hired chefs, valets, and armed security guards to staff the events.
Women were also hired to serve drinks, provide massages, and offer companionship to the players, and were allegedly charged a “tax” on their earnings by the organizers.
A Web of Criminal Charges
Arenas, also known as “Agent Zero,” faces three federal charges: conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators. If convicted, he faces a maximum of five years in federal prison for each count.
The other five men arrested in the gambling bust face conspiracy and illegal gambling charges. They include Yevgeni Gershman, 49, the suspected organized crime figure, as well as Evgenni Tourevski, Allan Austria, Yarin Cohen, and Ievgen Krachun, who allegedly worked as a “chip runner” tracking player wins and losses.
Organized Crime and Marriage Fraud Allegations
The investigation goes beyond just illegal gambling. Gershman, an Israeli citizen, faces additional charges of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, and making false statements on immigration documents.
The indictment alleges Gershman entered into a sham marriage with Valentina Cojocari, 35, to obtain permanent legal status in the U.S. Gershman allegedly provided Cojocari with financial support in exchange for her participation.
Both Gershman and Cojocari are accused of lying on immigration forms, where Gershman falsely stated he had never been detained by law enforcement or intended to engage in illegal gambling. Cojocari was also arrested today.
The arrests are the result of a multi-agency investigation involving Homeland Security Investigations, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Transnational Organized Crime Section, and IRS Criminal Investigation.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. They were scheduled to make their initial court appearances in Los Angeles this afternoon. The case will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Transnational Organized Crime Section.
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