From NBA Star to Poker Scandal: Gilbert Arenas in Federal Trouble

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Gilbert Arenas among six arrested in alleged illegal gambling ring

• Encino mansion allegedly used for hosting high-stakes poker games

• Israeli crime syndicate link identified by U.S. federal authorities

• Charges include gambling conspiracy, marriage fraud, and false immigration filings

• Potential sentence: Up to 5 years in federal prison per charge

A name once synonymous with explosive performances on the basketball court is now making headlines for a very different reason. Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas has found himself at the center of a federal investigation, after being arrested on Wednesday, July 30, in connection with what authorities are calling a “sophisticated illegal gambling operation” run from an upscale mansion in Encino, California.

The case, detailed in a federal indictment unsealed by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Central District of California, involves six individuals, including Arenas and a suspected high-level figure within an Israeli transnational organized crime group.

Arenas, now 43, is facing three serious charges: one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, one count of operating such a business, and one count of making false statements to federal investigators.

According to the indictment, Arenas allegedly rented out his private mansion in the upscale Encino neighborhood specifically to host high-stakes poker games that operated far outside the bounds of California law. But Arenas wasn’t acting alone. Prosecutors allege that he enlisted Arthur Kats, 51, of West Hollywood, to “stage the mansion,” turning it into a fully operational underground casino complete with staff and security.

“Kats helped coordinate logistics, find other individuals to facilitate the games, and collect rent from those involved—all on behalf of Arenas,” the indictment states.

The players behind the games weren’t amateurs either. Four other men—Yevgeni Gershman, 49, Evgenni Tourevski, 48, Allan Austria, 52, and Yarin Cohen, 27—were identified as key figures who managed the illegal games, including a poker variant known as “Pot Limit Omaha.” These individuals reportedly collected a “rake” from every hand—a term used to describe the house’s fee, typically a percentage of the pot or a fixed amount per play.

Prosecutors allege the operation went beyond cards and chips. “Gershman recruited young women who would serve drinks, give massages, and keep the players company,” the indictment details. “In return for tips from the players, these women were required to pay a percentage—described as a ‘tax’—of their earnings to those running the games.”

Additional support staff, including chefs, valets, and armed security guards, were also brought in to manage the large volume of guests, secure the location, and maintain the illusion of an exclusive private event.

The case takes an even darker turn with additional charges leveled against Gershman and another defendant, Valentina Cojocari, 35. Both face three more counts, including conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud itself, and making false statements on immigration documents.

Court documents reveal that the marriage fraud conspiracy was likely tied to the organized crime group’s broader efforts to gain lawful status or secure immigration benefits in the U.S.

“This was not a casual game night among friends,” a federal law enforcement official close to the investigation said. “This was an organized, profit-driven enterprise linked to international criminal operations.”

If convicted, each of the defendants could face up to five years in federal prison per count, highlighting the seriousness of the charges.

Gilbert Arenas, once a rising star who played 11 seasons in the NBA—including a celebrated run with the Washington Wizards—had already seen his professional reputation marred in 2009. That year, he was suspended for 50 games after bringing firearms into the Wizards locker room during an altercation with then-teammate Javaris Crittenton.

Though Arenas attempted a return to the league after the suspension, his career never regained its previous momentum.

Now, more than a decade later, Arenas is again facing legal troubles—this time off the court, and with potentially far-reaching consequences.

The federal case serves as a reminder that the intersection of celebrity and criminal enterprise often carries heavy legal risks. Authorities have emphasized that investigations into similar gambling and fraud rings are ongoing.

For Arenas and his co-defendants, the game may have just begun—this time in a courtroom.

The arrest of Gilbert Arenas and his alleged associates shines a harsh spotlight on the hidden underworld of elite illegal gambling tied to global crime networks. What seemed like a glamorous poker playground in a California mansion now stands exposed as a hub of illicit operations. As federal prosecutors move forward, the case underscores the law’s unyielding reach—even for those once celebrated under the limelight. Whether Arenas and the others are proven guilty in court remains to be seen, but the charges alone have cast a long shadow over their names and reputations.

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