NBA great and former Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas has been arrested for operating an illegal gambling business out of his home in Encino, California. Along with him, five other people have been arrested in the same case, federal prosecutors in California announced Wednesday.
The 43-year-old faces a total of three counts of charges: The charges include conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, running such a business, and making false statements to federal investigators - one count each.
The Department of Justice announced that among the five individuals arrested with the NBA star one was an alleged operative of an Israeli organized crime group. All of them face similar charges as Arenas.
Charges Against Gilbert Arenas Explained
The Department of Justice accused Gilbert Arenas and the other five operatives of conspiracy for allegedly hosting high-stakes poker games at his mansion in Encino, California. The DOJ said that among the operatives, Arenas was known by the moniker "Agent Zero."
The indictment made public on Wednesday stated that the Arenas rented out the mansion in Encino that he owned for the purpose of hosting the illegal poker games. It said that a 51-year-old man named Arthur Kats collected rent on behalf of Arenas from the illegal gambling operatives from September 2021 to July 2022. He has also been charged with deliberately lying to federal prosecutors.
{{/usCountry}}The indictment made public on Wednesday stated that the Arenas rented out the mansion in Encino that he owned for the purpose of hosting the illegal poker games. It said that a 51-year-old man named Arthur Kats collected rent on behalf of Arenas from the illegal gambling operatives from September 2021 to July 2022. He has also been charged with deliberately lying to federal prosecutors.
{{/usCountry}}Arenas and the five other illegal gambling operatives are set to appear in court on Wednesday (July 30) afternoon.
Also read: Gilbert Arenas arrested, Shannon Sharpe fired: Fans baffled at odd timing, ask ‘what is happening?’
Who else was arrested with Arenas?
The five people indicted with Arenas are:
Allan Austria, 52, from West Hills.
Evgenni Tourevski, 48, from Tarzana;
Ievgen Krachun, 43, from Tarzana.
Yarin Cohen, 27, from Tarzana
Yevgeni Gershman, 49, of Woodland Hills, member of a organized crime group in Israel