NBA Player Gilbert Arenas Detained for Alleged Involvement in Unlawful Betting, Subsequently Released
In a surprising turn of events, former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, known as "Agent Zero," has been charged in connection with an illegal gambling operation in California. The 43-year-old Woodland Hills resident was arrested and is scheduled to make his initial court appearance and arraignment this afternoon at the US District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
According to the indictment, Arenas is accused of permitting his Los Angeles mansion to be used for high-stakes poker games between September 2021 and July 2022. He is alleged to have hired staff, collected a house cut from each hand, and ensured rent was paid for the poker games. Arenas maintains his innocence, insisting he was not directly involved in the gambling operation.
Arenas is charged with three counts: conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of up to five years for each charge.
Joining Arenas in the indictment are Evgenni Tourevski, 48, also known as "Eugene," of Tarzana; Ievgen Krachun, 43, of Tarzana; Yarin Cohen, 27, a.k.a. "YC," of Tarzana; Allan Austria, 52, a.k.a. "Elica," of West Hills; and Yevgeni Gershman, 49, a suspected organized crime figure from Israel and also a Woodland Hills resident. The other individuals charged along with Arenas have not been named or detailed explicitly in the available search results.
The indictment unsealed in 2025 indicates that Arenas and other defendants operated an illegal gambling business from September 2021 to July 2022, but their identities are not specified in the sources provided.
This case is not the first time Arenas has found himself in legal trouble. In 2023, 39-year-old Emil Lahaziel was fatally shot outside a luxury rental home in the Hollywood Hills during a high-stakes poker game. Lahaziel's body was discovered on a staircase in the early morning hours of June 7, outside the residence on Fareholm Drive. Although this incident is connected to the illegal gambling ring, it is not directly linked to Arenas' arrest.
A day after his arrest, Arenas was released on a $50,000 bond. Following his release, he posted a celebratory video on Twitter. Arenas' next court date is scheduled for September 23.
As the investigation continues, more details about the illegal gambling operation and the other individuals involved are expected to be revealed. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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