Gilbert Arenas and 5 others arrested on illegal gambling charges

Former NBA star and Arizona Wildcats product Gilbert Arenas is among six people who were arrested Wednesday for allegedly operating an illegal gambling business that ran “high-stakes poker games” at Arenas’ Encino mansion, according to the Central District of California’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Arenas, 43, is facing charges for three counts: conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business and making false statements to federal investigators.

One of the others arrested, Yevgeni Gershman, 49, is a suspected organized crime figure from Israel, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The others arrested are: Evgenni Tourevski, 48; Allan Austria, 52; Yarin Cohen, 27; and Ievgen Krachun, 43.

The indictment accuses Arenas of renting out his mansion for the purpose of the poker games. A person named Arthur Kats “staged the mansion to host the games, found co-conspirators to host the games and collected rent from the co-conspirators on Arenas’ behalf,” the indictment alleges.

Gershman, Tourevski, Austria and Cohen are said to have collected a “rake” fee for participants to play, while young women were hired to serve drinks, provide massages and be companions for the players. The event organizers also hired chefs, valets and armed security for the games.

The investigation is led by the Homeland Security Investigations’ Northridge Office, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Crimes Division – Transnational Organized Crime Section and IRS Criminal Investigation.

Gilbert Arenas basketball career snapshot

Arenas played in college at Arizona from 1999-2001 before he was selected in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors.

He made three NBA All-Star Games as a member of the Washington Wizards from 2005-07 and played in the league into 2012.

Arenas earned a suspension in 2009 after it was revealed he brought firearms into the team’s locker room while in a dispute over gambling debts with then-teammate Javaris Crittenton.

Arenas has been in the headlines this year because his son, high-profile recruit Alijah Arenas, was involved in a serious car accident this past April.

A USC commit, Alijah Arenas this month suffered a serious knee injury that puts his status for his freshman college season in question.

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