Former NBA star arrested for allegedly running illegal gambling ring

FILE PHOTO – Memphis Grizzlies’ Gilbert Arenas puts up a free throw during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic in Memphis, Tenn., Thursday, April 26, 2012. Memphis defeated Orlando 88-76. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

LOS ANGELES – Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas and five others, including a suspected high-level member of an Israeli organized crime group, were arrested Wednesday on federal charges alleging they operated an illegal gambling business involving high-stakes poker games in Encino.

Arenas, 43, of Woodland Hills, is charged with one count each of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators, according to the US Attorney’s Office.

FILE – Former Washington Wizards player Gilbert Arenas takes part in a ceremony during the half-time of an NBA basketball game between the Wizards and the Miami Heat, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

At his arraignment Wednesday in federal court in downtown Los Angeles, Arenas pleaded not guilty andwas released on a $50,000 bond. US Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian set a tentative trial date of Sept. 23.

Also charged with conspiracy and operating an illegal gambling business are: — Yevgeni Gershman, 49, of Woodland Hills, a suspected organized crime figure from Israel; — Evgenni Tourevski, 48, of Tarzana; — Allan Austria, 52, of West Hills; — Yarin Cohen, 27,of Tarzana; and — Ievgen Krachun, 43, of Tarzana.

According to the indictment, Arenas rented out an Encino mansion he owned for the purpose of throwing high-stakes illegal poker games. At Arenas’ direction, Arthur Kats, 51, of West Hollywood, staged the house, found people to operate the games, and collected rent from co-conspirators on Arenas’ behalf from September 2021 to July 2022, federal prosecutors allege.

Gershman, Tourevski, Austria and Cohen managed illegal “Pot Limit Omaha” poker games, among other illegal games, at the home, collected a fee the house charged from each pot either as a percentage or a fixed amount per hand and invited players to compete, the indictment contends.

Young women allegedly collected tips to serve drinks, provide massages, and offer “companionship” to the poker players, prosecutors allege, and were charged a percentage of their earnings from working the games. Chefs, valets and armed security guards also were hired to staff the games, according to the indictment.

The US Attorney’s Office also contends that Krachun worked as a “chip runner,” in which he tracked players’ wins and losses, distributed poker chips, and paid employees.

Gershman, an Israeli citizen, is charged along with Valentina Cojocari, 35, of Woodland Hills, with three additional counts — conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, and making a false statement on an immigration document, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors allege that in early 2022, Gershman conspired with Cojocari to enter into a sham marriage for the purposes of obtaining permanent legal status in the United States and lied to immigration authorities to procure legal status for Gershman, who provided financial support to Cojocari in exchange for her participation in the sham marriage.

Both Gershman and Cojocari submitted false information on their US immigration forms, including Gershman’s answers of “no” as to whether he had ever been detained by any law enforcement official and whether he intended to engage in illegal gambling or any other form of commercialized vice, federal prosecutors said.

Cojocari was also arrested Wednesday and is scheduled to appear in court later with the other defendants.

Arenas is best known for his time as a guard on the Washington Wizards. He last played professionally in China in 2013. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license after an armed confrontation in the Wizards locker room in 2009 with teammate Javaris Crittenton.

If convicted, the defendants would face up to five years in federal prison for each count, prosecutors noted. (CNS)