Once hailed as one of the NBA’s most electrifying players, Gilbert Arenas—aka “Agent Zero”—is now making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The former Washington Wizards star has found himself at the center of a federal case involving an alleged underground gambling ring operating out of his lavish Encino mansion in California.
High-Stakes Poker, Federal Charges, and a Mansion in Encino
Federal prosecutors in California say Arenas was running high-stakes poker nights from his five-bedroom mansion between September 2021 and July 2022.
The games were allegedly far from casual—complete with professional dealers, security, and even a custom poker felt labeled “Arenas Poker Club” featuring a cartoon of Arenas in his old basketball jersey.
Authorities allege Arenas orchestrated the operation, with help from several others who helped manage, host, and profit from the games.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the charges on Wednesday.
Six Arrested in Alleged Gambling Scheme
Alongside Arenas, five others were charged in the case:
-
Yevgeni Gershman, 49, a suspected figure in Israeli organized crime
-
Evgenni Tourevski, 48
-
Allan Austria, 52
-
Yarin Cohen, 27
-
Ievgen Krachun, 43
The group now faces two felony charges each—one for conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and another for actually running it.
If convicted, each could face up to 10 years in federal prison—five years per charge.
Poker Nights with Massages, Valets, and Armed Guards
According to investigators, the illegal games weren’t just your average late-night poker hangouts.
Prosecutors say players paid a “rake”—a house fee taken from each pot—and were served drinks and massages by young women, who were also reportedly taxed a portion of their tips.
The setup even included chefs, valets, and armed security guards.
One of the defendants, Ievgen Krachun, allegedly worked as a chip runner—tracking bets, winnings, and payouts.
Prosecutors also say that Gershman hired the women, coordinated their roles, and took a cut of their earnings.
Additional Charges for Marriage Fraud
Gershman faces even more serious accusations.
He’s also been charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, and making a false statement on an immigration document.
Authorities claim he conspired with 35-year-old Valentina Cojocari to enter a sham marriage for the purpose of securing legal residency in the U.S.
Arenas Pleads Not Guilty and Posts Bond
Arenas appeared in court in Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
He was released on a $50,000 bond, and a trial date has been set for September 23.
Officials believe the gambling operation ended in December 2022 when Arenas sold the mansion at 4550 Gable Drive for $3.1 million—well below the $3.8 million he initially listed it for.
Not His First Run-In with the Law
This isn’t Gilbert Arenas’ first brush with legal trouble.
Back in the 2009–2010 NBA season, he was suspended for 50 games after bringing a gun into the Wizards locker room and allegedly pulling it on teammate Javaris Crittenton during a dispute over gambling debts.
He was later charged with carrying a pistol without a license and sentenced to probation and time in a halfway house.
He also made headlines in 2013 after being arrested by LAPD for possessing illegal fireworks.
A History of Controversial Remarks
Off the court, Arenas has made several racially insensitive and inflammatory remarks over the years—especially about non-American NBA players.
After Draymond Green punched Jusuf Nurkić in 2023, Arenas appeared to celebrate it, saying Green was “taking care of these Euros one at a time” and mocking European players for their growing presence in the league.
He even mocked South Sudan’s national basketball team before the 2024 Paris Olympics, referring to them in derogatory tribal terms and suggesting they “shoot on peach baskets in dirt.”
After being called out by former NBA star Luol Deng, Arenas gave a half-hearted apology, wishing Deng only enough luck to win silver.
Meanwhile, Arenas’ Son Faces Health Battles
On top of all this, Arenas’ teenage son, Alijah, recently endured a terrifying crash in a Tesla Cybertruck.
After losing control and slamming into a tree, the vehicle reportedly caught fire.
Alijah escaped by smashing a window but was hospitalized for a week and placed in a medically induced coma due to smoke inhalation.
Thankfully, he was released with no lasting damage.
However, he later learned he’d need surgery for a knee injury and would be out for six to eight months, missing his freshman season at USC, where he was set to play college basketball.
From NBA Fame to Legal Flameouts
Once one of the NBA’s most entertaining talents, Gilbert Arenas now finds himself facing serious consequences.
With a September trial ahead and his past already full of legal drama and public controversy, the former All-Star’s legacy seems increasingly overshadowed by trouble off the court.