Updated: 7/31/2025 10:05AM PDT
UPDATE: At around 7:30PM, NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas posted a video to his social media wherein he appears to be excitedly leaving a court building. His post included the caption, "Im Back on the Streets 🗣️This aint got shyt to do with me ' just rented the house' Wasnt apart," seeming to state that while he was sweeped up in the arrests, he claims to have been nothing more than the proprietor of a short-term rental, rather than a part of the illegal activity.
In a development that is grabbing headlines, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, also known by the moniker "Agent Zero," was one of six individuals busted by federal authorities. The group stands accused of running high-stakes, illegal poker games out of an Encino mansion owned by Arenas. The charges include operating an illegal gambling business and conspiracy to do the same.
Details obtained from the U.S. Attorney's Office reveal that alongside Arenas, suspects Yevgeni Gershman, Evgenni Tourevski, Allan Austria, Yarin Cohen, and Ievgen Krachun are facing similar charges. Gershman is being spotlighted as a key player in this story, with allegations pointing to his role as a suspected high-ranking figure in an Israeli transnational organized crime group, and also embroiled in charges related to marriage fraud for immigration purposes.
The indictment, which was unveiled today following arrests, paints a picture of the enterprise's interior workings. According to prosecutors, Arenas rented out his Encino property, specifically for the purpose of hosting the illicit poker games. These were managed by the co-defendants, who took a cut from each game, known in gambling parlance as a "rake". The operation went beyond the poker table; the defendants are said to have hired young women for drinks and massages, chefs, valets, and even armed security, creating an air of lavish exclusivity around their illegal venture.
Additional allegations involve marriage fraud, where Gershman and one Valentina Cojocari are charged with conspiracy to commit the said fraud, marriage fraud itself, and lying on immigration documents. Authorities claim a financial arrangement was made between Gershman, an Israeli citizen, and Cojocari, with the latter agreeing to a sham marriage to help Gershman secure permanent residency in the U.S. If the defendants are found guilty, they could each face up to five years per count in federal prison, a stark reminder of the potential consequences tied to their alleged gambling games.
The case is presently under the investigative gaze of Homeland Security Investigations' Northridge Office, the Los Angeles Police Department's Major Crimes Division – Transnational Organized Crime Section, and IRS Criminal Investigation. The prosecuting arm for the government sees Assistant United States Attorney Samuel J. Diaz of the Transnational Organized Crime Section at the helm, signaling the severity with which the U.S. Attorney's Office is treating the matter.
