Gilbert Arenas is in difficulty with the law again because of card games, and this time it will lead to criminal charges.
Gilbert Arenas
On Wednesday, the list of famous players who got caught up in illegal gambling scandals this year got longer. Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas was arrested along with five other people for running an illegal poker ring out of Arenas's estate in Encino, California.
The US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said that Arenas is facing three accusations. They are each charged with one count of conspiracy to run unlawful gambling, running illegal gambling, and lying to federal agents.
Along with Arenas, five other individuals were arrested: Yevgeni Gershman, Evgenni Tourevski, Allan Austria, Yarin Cohen, and Ievgen Krachun.
According to the US Attorney's Office, Gershman is "a suspected organised crime figure from Israel." Gershman and his wife Valentina Cojocari are also facing three counts of marriage fraud in addition to the gambling allegations. The two are said to have gotten married in a "sham marriage" so that Gershman, who is from Israel, could get legal status.
If someone is found guilty of all the gambling offences, they might spend up to five years in federal prison. Arenas was charged in federal court in Los Angeles on Wednesday and said he was not guilty. He was freed on a $50,000 bond and told to show up for court on September 23. Federal prosecutors didn't want to say anything else.
A complicated job
From September 2021 to July 2022, Arenas and the other people involved are said to have run an illegal poker operation out of the Encino mansion. According to the statement, Arenas rented the residence to his friends "for the purpose of hosting high-stakes illegal poker games" during that time.
Arthur Kats, 51, who was not listed as a co-conspirator, was said to have been in charge of the property in some way. People alleged he set up the house for games, found people to host the events, and collected rent for Arenas.
It was said that four of the men—Gershman, Tourevski, Austria, and Cohen—were the main people running the games. They asked people to play and took a cut of the pots, or rakes, from each game. People alleged that Krachun was the operation's accountant or "chip runner," keeping track of wins and losses, giving out chips, and making sure payouts went smoothly.
Gershman also employed young women to work at the games. There are no sexual charges against the women, but they are said to have served drinks, given massages, and kept the poker players company. Arenas' co-conspirators took a cut of the money that these women made. Other helpers are paid cooks, valets, and armed "security guards."
In California, you can only play poker at card rooms that have a state license or at casinos controlled by Native Americans.
Not sure if the incident is connected to other controversies
Arenas is one of numerous players who have been linked to gambling scandals this year. Some of these scandals are tied to one other. For instance, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York is looking into a number of athletes. They include Jontay Porter, who was banned from the NBA for life last year for purposely playing poorly to win prop bets.
Terry Rozier, a player for the Miami Heat, is also involved in that case. This month, ESPN uncovered new information about similar claims and strange betting patterns. Malik Beasley, a former Pistons guard, is also being looked at.
Recently, two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Luis Ortiz and All-Star Emmanuel Clase, have been put under investigation by MLB. There isn't much information about Clase now, but Ortiz is being accused of manipulating prop bets for pitches that missed the plate severely in two starts in June. Last year, MLB banned former infielder Tucupita Marcano for life for betting on baseball. Umpire Pat Hoberg was also sacked for sharing a betting account with a buddy.
We don't know yet if Arenas' case is linked to any other high-profile sports betting investigations.
The term of the top prosecutor was extended the day before.
Donald Trump, the President of the United States, prolonged Bill Essayli's term as the interim US Attorney for the Central District of California on Tuesday, just before it was supposed to end.
The Central District has also been looking into the illicit sports betting business in Southern California for several years, in addition to the Arenas case. Matt Bowyer is going to be sentenced in Santa Ana next month for unlawful bookmaking, money laundering, and not paying his federal taxes. Bowyer is the bookie who took $325 million in sports bets from Ippei Mizuhara, who used to be the translator for baseball player Shohei Ohtani.
Trump chose Essayli in April for a tenure of 120 days. Essayli took over for Joseph McNally, who was acting US Attorney. The extension gives Essayli 210 more days to serve without having to get Senate approval.
In addition to Bowyer, there are two other illegal bookies in the district who are waiting to be sentenced. This year, the office has put off sentencing Damien LeForbes, a professional poker player, more than once. Wayne Nix, a former minor league pitcher for the A's and another bookie, has had his sentence put off several times since he pleaded guilty in 2022.
It's a rocky journey for Agent Zero.
NBA fans know the 43-year-old Arenas as "Agent Zero" because of his jersey number. He has fallen out of favour during the past 20 years. From 2001 until 2012, Arenas played for a number of NBA clubs, although the Washington Wizards were the most well-known. For the franchise, he was named to the All-Star team three times and the All-NBA team three times.
But in late 2009, Arenas' career came to a halt because of something that happened with teammate Javaris Crittenton. The two males took firearms into the Wizards' locker room, which was subsequently found out to be because of a fight over a card game. Netflix is now broadcasting a documentary about the event called "Untold: Shooting Guards."
Arenas has strived to improve his image over the years and has become something of a media figure. Underdog Fantasy sponsors his online sports talk show "Gil's Arena," which just signed a new deal in January.
Alijah, Arenas' son, is likewise a highly sought-after young talent who has signed to play at the University of Southern California. Earlier this year, the younger Arenas escaped a horrific vehicle accident that put him in a medically induced coma.
