Former NBA All-Star and current podcast host Gilbert Arenas has been arrested on federal indictment and accused of running an illegal gambling business.
Arenas was accused of operating the business with five others, including a suspected Israeli crime figure. According to federal prosecutors, Arenas allegedly rented out his Encino, CA, mansion to host high-end, illegal poker games believed to be conducted between Sept. 12, 2021, and July 20, 2022.
Hosting a cash poker game isn’t necessarily illegal. Still, per charging documents, this act is considered criminal because organizers would allegedly “collect a ‘rake’ — that is, a fee the house would charge from each pot either as a percentage or a fixed amount per hand.” The organizers also allegedly hired women to serve the gamblers with drinks and massages. Chefs, valets, and security guards were also hired to staff the poker games.
In addition to Gilbert Arenas, Yevgeni Gershman, Evgenni Tourevski, Allan Austria, Yarin Cohen, and Ievgen Krachun were also named in the charging documents. All were expected to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon inthe United States District Court in Los Angeles.
Arenas and the five other defendants were charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of operating an illegal gambling business. If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in federal prison for each count.
Arenas hosts the Gil’s Arena podcast, which has grown into one of the more popular YouTube shows in sports media. The arrest comes just three days after former NBA player and occasional ESPN analyst Marcus Morris Sr. was arrested on fraud charges. Morris was accused of stealing $265,000 from two Las Vegas casinos.
About Brandon Contes
Brandon Contes is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He previously helped carve the sports vertical for Mediaite and spent more than three years with Barrett Sports Media. Send tips/comments/complaints to bcontes@thecomeback.com