The former NBA star, Gilbert Arenas, was arrested under the suspicions of making illegal poker games
The former NBA star, Gilbert Arenas, was arrested alongside five other people on a federal indictment alleged that they operated an illegal game company.
According to the Office of the American District Prosecutor for the California central district, the six accused was arrested on July 30, with allegations that they operated an illegal game company welcoming poker games high in an Encino manor, which owned the arenas.
The former NBA star, Gilbert Arenas, and suspicion of Israeli crime figure, arrested for federal accusation alleging illegal poker games with high issues at Encino Mansion https://t.co/ogzbttfuga
– American lawyer (@susao_losangeles) July 30, 2025
The former 43 -year -old NBA player was accused of a conspiracy chief to operate an illegal game company, an illegal play manager and an accusation manager for federal investigators.
Arenas was faced with the accusation in the afternoon of July 30, alongside the 49-year-old crime of Israel, Yevgeni Gershman, Evgenni Tourevski, 48, aged 48, Alllan Austria, 52, Yarin Cohen, 27, and Ievgen Krachun, 43.
The other accused were all accused of a conspiracy manager to operate an illegal game company and an operating manager of an illegal game company. Arenas pleaded not guilty and was published pending trial after paying a deposit of $ 50,000.
How were illegal poker games installed?
The illegal game activities would have taken place between September 2021 and July 2022, Gilbert Arenas praising an Encino manor that he already had for poker games with high issues without license.
In addition to collaborating with the other five accused men, Arthur Kats, 51, was also involved, creating the property to host the games, finding co-conspirators to host them and collect rent on behalf of the Arenas.
Gershman, Tourevski, Austria and Cohen organized the illegal poker games of “Pot Limit Omaha”, among other illegal games, and collected a “rake”, or the costs that the house billed in each pot. It was generally a percentage or a fixed amount in hand.
Young women have already been hired by Gershman to serve drinks and offer the company to poker players. Women were also charged a percentage of their profits depending on the game. In addition to that, the chefs, the valets and the armed security agents were hired to provide these illegal poker games.
Gershman, an Israeli citizen, alongside a seventh individual, Valentina Cojocari, 35, was accused of three additional counts: conspiracy to commit marriage to marriage, fraud at marriage and make a false statement on an immigration document. This dates back to the beginning of 2022, when Gershman conspired with cojocari to enter a wedding simulated by green card.
Cojocari was also arrested and translated at the same time as the others in the district court of the United States in Los Angeles.
During her NBA career, Arenas made the NBA stars team three times and played 11 seasons in the League. He is not the only name of the NBA to be attached to the illegal activity, with his colleague player Malik Beasley accused of allegations of games related to NBA games.
The MLB also suspended several players due to violations of its Paris policy, with the launcher of Cleveland Guardians, Luis Ortiz and his colleague closer to Emmanuel Clase put on paid leave in a separate game investigation.
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