Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas was arrested Wednesday and charged alongside 5 others with conspiracy for allegedly working unlawful “high-stakes” poker video games in Encino that included hiring ladies to offer “companionship” for gamblers, courtroom data present.
Arenas, 43, rented out an Encino mansion that he owned between September 2021 and July 2022 “for the needs of internet hosting high-stakes unlawful poker video games,” in line with a information launch issued by the U.S. legal professional’s workplace in Los Angeles. Gamers had been charged a “rake,” or tax, to play, along with no matter they guess into numerous pots, prosecutors alleged in courtroom data.
Finest identified for his time as a guard on the Washington Wizards, Arenas is recognized in courtroom data by his nickname “Agent Zero.” He final performed professionally in China in 2013.
Arenas has been charged with conspiracy to function an unlawful playing enterprise, working an unlawful playing enterprise and making false statements to federal investigators. Arenas wore pink basketball shorts and a shirt with the phrases “simply grind” as he pleaded not responsible throughout a quick courtroom look in downtown L.A. on Wednesday afternoon.
A private spokesperson for Arenas didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Indicted alongside Arenas had been: Yevgeni Gershman, 49, of Woodland Hills; Evgenni Tourevski, 48, of Tarzana; Allan Austria, 52, of West Hills; Yarin Cohen, 27, of Tarzana and Ievgen Krachun, 43, of Tarzana. Prosecutors described Gershman as a “suspected high-level member of an Israeli transnational organized crime group.”
Cohen and Krachun additionally pleaded not responsible Wednesday. Gershman’s listening to was continued.
Gershman, Tourevski, Austria and Cohen managed the poker video games, prosecutors stated. Gershman additionally allegedly employed younger ladies to serve drinks, present massages and supply “companionship” to gamers, in line with the indictment.
The video games started to return collectively in September 2021, in line with the indictment. That yr, Arthur Kats, 51, texted Arenas asking whether or not he deliberate on doing his personal sport, data present. Arenas allegedly responded that he “may throw plo video games at my home,” referring to unlawful “Pot Restrict Omaha” poker video games on the “Gable Home.”
Authorities stated Kats was not arrested alongside the opposite defendants Wednesday and legislation enforcement is actively trying to find him.
The next month, Arenas allegedly texted Kats the date that the home can be out there to host, the quantity of hire he needed to cost and the variety of video games he deliberate on internet hosting there per week. In November 2021, authorities stated, Arenas texted Kats an image of a gold-trimmed poker desk with “ARENAS POKER CLUB” printed on it and a picture of a basketball participant with a jersey with the title “Arenas” and the quantity zero under it.
That yr, in December, Kats allegedly texted Arenas saying that he owed him $14,000 for tables and chairs as a startup expense for internet hosting the video games. That very same month, Arenas allegedly informed Kats he needed the rake from an unlawful poker sport on the home to go to the mom of a deceased former lover.
The next yr, authorities allege that Kats let Arenas know Tourevski and his companions had been able to host unlawful poker video games on the home on Wednesdays. In February 2022, Gershman allegedly texted contacts a few new place for “Pot Restrict Omaha.”
Gershman allegedly despatched coded textual content messages to ladies inviting them to work the unlawful poker video games and in a single case asking if a lady was open to partaking in prostitution on the home. In keeping with the indictment, Gershman defined to at least one girl that he charged ladies 25% to 35% of their earnings from working the video games.
A sport on the home in July 2022 allegedly drew 26 gamers and greater than a dozen employees, in line with the indictment. Cooks, valets and armed safety guards had been allegedly employed to employees the unlawful poker video games.
In keeping with the indictment, Arenas sought to get again funds that had been seized from his main bedroom by Homeland Safety Investigations on July 20, 2022. Authorities allege that Arenas falsely said that he wasn’t concerned in something taking place on the celebration.
Authorities stated Arenas “had knowingly supplied playing tools on the Gable Home for use to host an unlawful poker sport on July 19, 2022, had knowingly rented out the Gable Home for use to host the unlawful poker sport on July 19, 2022, and was amassing hire from the hosts for working an unlawful poker sport on the Gable Home on July 19, 2022.”
L.A. federal prosecutors wrote that when Arenas’ home was raided, “unlawful playing actions had been in full swing,” with folks detained or questioned.
Arenas and the opposite males had been slated to make their preliminary look in downtown L.A. on Wednesday afternoon. Arenas’ legal professional didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Gershman was individually accused of conspiring with 35-year-old Valentina Cojocari to enter right into a “sham marriage” so he might get hold of authorized everlasting resident standing within the U.S., prosecutors stated.
In keeping with courtroom filings by L.A. federal prosecutors, Gershman has legal convictions in Israel, together with conspiracy to commit homicide and narcotics trafficking.
This isn’t the primary time Arenas has run afoul of authorities due to playing. In 2009, Arenas and then-Wizards teammate Javaris Crittenton allegedly pulled weapons on one another throughout a locker room argument over a card sport. Police launched an investigation and Arenas later admitted to having three weapons in his locker. No prices had been filed however he was suspended for many of the 2009-10 NBA season.
Arenas’ 18-year-old son, Alijah, was briefly positioned in a coma after a severe automotive accident in Reseda earlier this yr. The Chatsworth basketball standout and top-tier USC recruit has since recovered. Neither medicine nor alcohol had been concerned within the crash.
