NBA legend Gilbert Arenas arrested for illegal casino operations
Arenas, alongside five other individuals, is suspected of running illegal poker games in Encino.
Key Points
- Former NBA star Arenas is under investigation for the running of illegal poker operations
- Arenas was arrested alongside a suspected Israeli gang member and four additional individuals this week
- He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and paid a $50,000 release bond, with the investigation remaining underway
Former NBA point guard Gilbert Arenas has been arrested alongside five individuals for allegations relating to the running of illegal high-stakes poker games in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Encino.
Specifically, the poker games are suspected to have been played at an Encino mansion rented by Arenas. As such, the former NBA star made his first appearance in court yesterday, pleading not guilty to the verdict and subsequently being released following the payment of a $50,000 bond.
Alongside Arenas, five other individuals have been arrested as part of this case, including 49-year-old Yevgeni Gershman – a suspected high-ranking member of an Israeli international organized crime syndicate. Local authorities allege that Gershman played a pivotal role in the movement – organizing both staff and logistics for the meetups. Currently, Gershman is also a defendant in a separate investigation relating to three counts of alleged marriage fraud.
Also named as part of the suit are Evgenni Tourevski (49), Allan Austria (52), Yarin Cohen (27) and Ievgen Krachun (43).
The indictment accuses the six suspects of overseeing illegal gambling operations via the renting of a mansion in the highly affluent LA neighbourhood of Encino between September 2021 and July 2023. If convicted, the defendants could face up to five years in prison for each count of illegal activity.
Good to know: Arenas’ last official appearance in the NBA was in 2012
This latest development falls in the wake of several additional NBA-related federal investigations – with sources linking NBA gambling ring activity to NCAA games in February as part of an ongoing case relating to the disgraced former NBA-forward Jontay Porter.
Elsewhere, last month, Detroit Pistons shooting guard Malik Beasley was also subject to federal investigation for suspected gambling linked to NBA games during the 2023-24 season.
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