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Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas was arrested on federal expenses in Los Angeles on Tuesday after a federal indictment alleged that Arenas and 5 others, together with a high-level member of an Israeli organized crime group, had been working unlawful high-stakes poker video games at Arenas’ Encino dwelling.
Based on a press launch from the Central District of California’s U.S District Lawyer’s workplace, Arenas is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon at the USA District Courtroom in downtown Los Angeles. The 43-year-old former three-time NBA All-Star has been charged with one depend every of conspiracy to function an unlawful playing enterprise, working an unlawful playing enterprise, and making false statements to federal investigators.
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas and suspected Israeli crime determine arrested on federal indictment alleging high-stakes unlawful poker video games at Encino mansion https://t.co/OGzbtTfuGa
— US Lawyer L.A. (@USAO_LosAngeles) July 30, 2025
Yevgeni Gershman, a 49-year-old high-ranking Israeli mobster nicknamed “Giora”, was additionally arrested within the sting alongside 4 others. Every was charged with the identical depend of conspiracy and working an unlawful playing enterprise that Arenas was, though Arenas was the one one charged with making false statements.
“Based on the indictment returned on July 15 and unsealed at present, from September 2021 to July 2022, Gershman, Arenas, and the opposite defendants operated an unlawful playing enterprise. Arenas rented out an Encino mansion he owned for the aim of internet hosting high-stakes unlawful poker video games,” The U.S. District Lawyer’s assertion stated. At Arenas’ path, Arthur Kats, 51, of West Hollywood, staged the mansion to host the video games, discovered co-conspirators to host the video games, and picked up hire from the co-conspirators on Arenas’ behalf.
“Gershman, Tourevski, Austria, and Cohen managed unlawful “Pot Restrict Omaha” poker video games, amongst different unlawful video games, on the Encino mansion and invited gamers to compete. Gershman employed younger girls who, in alternate for suggestions, served drinks, offered massages, and supplied companionship to the poker gamers. The ladies had been charged a “tax” – a proportion of their earnings from working the video games.”
Gershman was additionally charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, and making a false assertion on an immigration doc. The US District Lawyer’s assertion stated that every defendant “would face a statutory most sentence of 5 years in federal jail for every depend” if convicted.
BREAKING: Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas and 5 different defendants, together with a suspected high-level Israeli crime determine, had been arrested at present on a federal indictment alleging they operated an unlawful playing enterprise wherein high-stakes poker video games had been performed at an Encino… pic.twitter.com/hTNSioq3Cf
— Yahoo Sports activities (@YahooSports) July 30, 2025
Arenas had beforehand been in talks with NBC to probably be a part of their staff of analysts amid the community’s extremely anticipated return to broadcasting the NBA this upcoming season, though his arrest will doubtless derail any chance of that coming to fruition.
His NBA profession was famously derailed by a 2009 incident within the Washington Wizards locker room the place he and Javaris Crittenton pulled weapons on one another over a playing dispute. Arenas was given a felony gun cost consequently and was suspended for the rest of the 2009-10 season.
The previous NBA star had risen again into nationwide relevance via his media profession, notably on his personal podcast, Gil’s Area, produced and funded by Underdog Sports activities. Arenas’ son Alijah is a five-star freshman on the USC basketball staff, though he was not too long ago dominated out for the season after struggling a torn meniscus whereas coaching.
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