Gilbert Arenas Indicted in Illegal California Poker Ring

Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas is once again under legal scrutiny over a card game dispute — but this time, the matter has escalated into a federal case. Arenas, 43, was arrested Wednesday in connection with an illegal poker operation allegedly run out of a luxury property he owns in Encino, California.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced that Arenas faces three felony charges: conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators. If convicted, each charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. Arenas, who pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in Los Angeles federal court, was released on $50,000 bond. A trial date has been set for September 23.

A Sophisticated, Unlicensed Operation

Federal prosecutors allege that Arenas leased his Encino mansion to co-conspirators who used the residence to host high-stakes poker games between September 2021 and July 2022. While Arenas did not personally run the games, he is accused of knowingly facilitating the operation and misrepresenting his involvement to investigators. The poker ring was described in the criminal complaint as a “sophisticated, for-profit enterprise,” involving multiple roles and personnel. According to court documents:

• Yevgeni Gershman, identified by authorities as a suspected organized crime figure from Israel, and three other men — Evgenni Tourevski, Allan Austria, and Yarin Cohen — allegedly served as the primary operators. They collected “rakes” (a cut from each pot), recruited players, and oversaw logistics.

• Ievgen Krachun, another co-defendant, acted as the group’s accountant and chip distributor.

• The group employed young women to serve drinks, provide massages, and offer companionship to players. Though no sex-related charges were filed, investigators say the operators profited from a cut of the women’s tips.

 

Arenas’ longtime associate, Arthur Kats, was reportedly involved in property management and game organization but has not been charged. The operation also hired chefs, valets, and armed security guards — indicating a level of organization and scale uncommon in typical home poker games. Under California law, such games are legal only in licensed card rooms or tribal casinos.
Wider Criminal Implications

Gershman and his wife, Valentina Cojocari, face three additional charges unrelated to gambling. Prosecutors allege the couple engaged in marriage fraud to help Gershman obtain legal U.S. residency. The Department of Homeland Security assisted in the investigation.

The case is one of several gambling-related prosecutions currently unfolding across federal jurisdictions. However, authorities have not confirmed whether the Arenas case is linked to other high-profile investigations, such as the Eastern District of New York’s probe into match-fixing and prop-bet manipulation involving professional athletes. That investigation has implicated multiple sports figures, including former NBA player Jontay Porter, who received a lifetime ban last year for betting-related infractions. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, ex-Pistons guard Malik Beasley, and MLB players Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase have also faced scrutiny in separate cases.

 

Federal Attention on Southern California Gambling

The Arenas case comes amid a broader crackdown on illegal gambling operations in Southern California. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump extended the term of Bill Essayli as interim U.S. Attorney for the Central District, the office handling the prosecution. Essayli’s term was due to expire this week but has now been extended by 210 days.

 

This was a sophisticated, for-profit gambling operation disguised as private poker games.

 

Outlook

The Central District has pursued multiple illegal bookmaking cases in recent years, including that of Matt Bowyer, who allegedly handled over $300 million in sports wagers from Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani. Bowyer is scheduled for sentencing next month. Other notable cases include pro poker player Damien LeForbes and ex-Oakland A’s minor leaguer Wayne Nix, both of whom have pleaded guilty to gambling-related charges and await sentencing.

Known by his nickname “Agent Zero,” Arenas was once one of the NBA’s top scorers and a three-time All-Star with the Washington Wizards. But his career began unraveling in 2009 after a locker room incident involving guns and a gambling dispute with teammate Javaris Crittenton. Both players were suspended, and Arenas never regained his former on-court prominence.

That incident is the subject of the Netflix documentary Untold: Shooting Guards, which revisits the card game argument that triggered a federal investigation into locker room gun possession. Arenas’ involvement in yet another card-related scandal has reignited debate about the intersection of sports celebrity, gambling, and accountability. Federal prosecutors have declined further comment, citing the ongoing nature of the case.