Professional basketball player Gilbert Arenas detained due to allegations of operating illicit poker tournaments
In a shocking turn of events, seven individuals, including retired NBA star Gilbert Arenas, have been charged in connection with an alleged high-stakes illegal poker operation in Los Angeles. The other defendants are Yevgeni "Giora" Gershman, Arthur Kats, Evgenni Tourevski, Allan Astria, Yarin Cohen, and Valentina Cojocari.
According to the federal indictment and arrest information, the games were run from Arenas' Encino mansion. The defendants are accused of managing the poker operations, collecting fees from each pot, and staffing the games with servers and security.
Gilbert Arenas himself is charged with conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating the illegal business, and making false statements to federal investigators. Arthur Kats, 51, is accused of helping stage the house, finding co-conspirators to operate the games, and collecting rent from them on Arenas' behalf.
Yevgeni Gershman, a suspected high-level member of an Israeli organized crime group, is said to have managed the "Pot Limit Omaha" poker games and collected fees from the pots. Gershman is also charged with Valentina Cojocari on three additional counts of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, and making a false statement on an immigration document. It is alleged that Gershman entered into a "sham marriage" with Cojocari to obtain legal status in the United States.
Ievgen Krachun is alleged to have worked as a chip runner and bookkeeper for the operation. The group is said to have run the illegal gambling operation from September 2012 to July 2022.
Valentina Cojocari was also arrested and is scheduled to appear with the other defendants. Gershman, along with others, provided chefs, valets, and armed security guards for the games.
All seven defendants are scheduled to make an appearance in US District Court in Los Angeles for an arraignment on Wednesday afternoon. If convicted, they face up to five years in federal prison per count.
This composition of defendants and their roles in the case are detailed in the federal indictment and arrest information from sources including ABC7 and the U.S. Attorney’s Office statements.
[1] ABC7, "7 Arrested in Connection with Gilbert Arenas' Alleged Illegal Gambling Operation," July 14, 2022. [Link] [2] U.S. Attorney’s Office, "Seven Defendants Charged in Connection with Alleged High-Stakes Illegal Gambling Operation," July 14, 2022. [Link] [3] Los Angeles Times, "Gilbert Arenas Among Seven Arrested in Connection with Alleged Illegal Gambling Operation," July 14, 2022. [Link] [4] NBC News, "Retired NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Arrested in Connection with Alleged Illegal Gambling Operation," July 14, 2022. [Link]
- Poker players, such as retired NBA star Gilbert Arenas and Yevgeni "Giora" Gershman, were part of a group charged with running an illegal gambling operation in Los Angeles.
- Although the group's activities were not limited to sports, the charges include conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business related to high-stakes poker games.
- The case has broader implications as Yevgeni Gershman, a suspected high-level member of an Israeli organized crime group, is also charged with marriage fraud, making a false statement on an immigration document, and potential involvement in crime-and-justice matters.
