A former NBA All-Star, an alleged international crime figure, and a luxury mansion in Los Angeles are now at the center of a federal investigation into an underground gambling ring, raising new questions about how deep this case could go.
On Wednesday, former Washington Wizards player Gilbert Arenas, along with five other individuals, was arrested and charged in connection with an illegal high-stakes poker operation that prosecutors say ran out of Arenas’s Encino mansion from 2021 to 2022. The U.S. Justice Department unsealed the indictment this week, revealing the extent of what it describes as a highly organized gambling enterprise.
Arenas, now 43, faces three charges: conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators. The former NBA player is accused of renting out his Los Angeles property specifically for the poker events, which allegedly drew high rollers and involved thousands of dollars in play each night.
“I AIN’T EVEN RAT YET; THE CASE AIN’T EVEN STARTED YET.”
Gilbert Arenas, on his live stream, on being arrested for allegedly running an illegal gambling business out of his home with 7 other members
Thoughts?
pic.twitter.com/0t6tuYS5zJ
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) August 1, 2025
According to federal documents, Arenas tasked another individual, Arthur Kats of West Hollywood, with preparing the home for these events, recruiting others to help run the games, and collecting rent from the organizers. Prosecutors say the mansion was outfitted with staff and security to maintain the atmosphere and privacy of the high-stakes games.
Among those arrested with Arenas was 49-year-old Yevgeni Gershman, who is described by the Justice Department as a “suspected organized crime figure from Israel.” Gershman, along with Evgenni Tourevski, Allan Austria, Yarin Cohen, and Ievgen Krachun, was charged with conspiracy and operating an illegal gambling business.
Federal officials allege that Gershman and the others organized and managed the games, collected rake fees—a percentage of each pot or hand—and oversaw the operation like a business. Krachun reportedly served as a “chip runner,” managing both the chips and the event payroll. The operation, officials say, also employed young women who provided drinks, massages, and “companionship” to players. These women paid a percentage of their tips back to the organizers.
Some sports-related DOJ news @CBSNews: Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas and 5 others have been arrested today on charges of operating an illegal gambling/poker ring. Release from @TheJusticeDept / @billessayli: pic.twitter.com/qwegoWEJMM
— jake rosen (@JakeMRosen) July 30, 2025
The Justice Department further alleges that the operation was supported by a full staff, including chefs, valets, and armed guards to maintain order and security during the games.
But the charges go beyond gambling.
Gershman and 35-year-old Valentina Cojocari were also charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, and making false statements on immigration forms. Prosecutors say Gershman paid Cojocari to enter into a sham marriage in order to help him obtain permanent legal status in the United States. On his immigration paperwork, officials say, Gershman falsely claimed he had never been detained by law enforcement and that he did not plan to engage in illegal gambling.
All six of the individuals charged were scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon. Court documents have not yet revealed whether any of the defendants plan to plead guilty or fight the charges.
The case marks a dramatic turn for Arenas, once known for his explosive scoring on the court and now facing serious federal charges off it. For authorities, the case may also signal a broader push into investigating international links to gambling operations on U.S. soil—especially those operating in affluent neighborhoods under the radar.
The full scope of the alleged operation is still unfolding, and with one of the defendants tied to suspected organized crime overseas, more questions are likely to emerge.
