Gilbert Arenas and a man suspected to be high-level member of an Israeli transnational organized crime group were among six suspects who were arrested and federally indicted for allegedly operating an illegal gambling business at an Encino mansion owned by the former NBA star, authorities announced on Wednesday.
In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, said that Arenas, 43, and the five other defendants hosted high-stakes illegal poker games at his Encino mansion.
Authorities said one of the six suspects, an Israeli identified as 49-year-old Yevgeni Gershman, is a suspected organized crime figure. The other suspects were identified as Evgenni Tourevski, 48, Allan Austria, 52, Yarin Cohen, 27, and 43-year-old Ievgen Krachun.
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Authorities said that Arenas, who played for NBA teams including the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards, purposely rented out his Encino mansion to host high-stakes illegal poker games.
“At Arenas’ direction, Arthur Kats, 51, of West Hollywood, staged the mansion to host the games, found co-conspirators to host the games, and collected rent from the co-conspirators on Arenas’ behalf,” the statement said.
“Gershman, Tourevski, Austria, and Cohen managed illegal ‘Pot Limit Omaha’ poker games, among other illegal games, at the Encino mansion, collected a ‘rake’ – a fee the house charged from each pot either as a percentage or a fixed amount per hand – and invited players to compete.”
Besides running the illegal gambling business, Gershman hired young women who offered services to the poker players at a cost, per the statement. The services included serving the poker players drinks, as well as, providing them massages and companionship. The women were also made to pay “tax” – which authorities said was “a percentage of their earnings from working the games.”
“Chefs, valets, and armed security guards also were hired to staff these illegal poker games,” authorities said. “Krachun worked as a ‘chip runner,’ in which he tracked players’ wins and losses, distribute poker chips to players, and pay employees.”
Arenas and the defendants have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of operating an illegal gambling business. The defendants could be sentenced to a statutory maximum of five years in federal prison for each count if convicted, authorities said.
Authorities have additionally charged Gershman and another defendant, identified as Valentina Cojocari, with three counts of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, and making a false statement on an immigration document.
“In early 2022, Gershman conspired with Cojocari to enter into a sham marriage for the purposes of obtaining permanent legal status in the United States and lied to immigration authorities to procure legal status for Gershman, who provided financial support to Cojocari in exchange for her participation in the sham marriage,” the statement said.
“Both Gershman and Cojocari submitted false information on their U.S. immigration forms, including Gershman’s answers of ‘no’ as to whether he had ever been detained by any law enforcement official and as to whether he intended to engage in illegal gambling or any other form of commercialized vice.”
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