Gilbert Arenas, also known as “Agent Zero,” was arrested today on federal charges. He’s being accused of operating a high‑stakes illegal poker operation.
🏠 The Alleged Operation
Federal prosecutors allege that from September 2021 through July 2022, Arenas rented out his Encino residence for the sole purpose of staging underground poker games, notably Pot Limit Omaha, intended to generate significant revenue.
Investigators say he entrusted Arthur Kats, a co‑defendant, to prepare the mansion, recruit organizers, and manage operations
🎲 Staffing & Structure
- Players paid a rake (a fee on each pot or a flat amount per hand.
- The venue employed chefs, valets, and armed security.
- Young women served drinks, offered massages, and provided companionship.
- Additional roles included those collecting and distributing chips: notably defendant Ievgen Krachun, identified as a “chip runner”.
📌 Other Defendants
Arenas is facing charges alongside five other individuals:
- Yevgeni “Giora” Gershman, 49, a suspected Israeli organized crime figure of Woodland Hills.
- Evgenni Tourevski, 48, Tarzana.
- Allan Austria, 52, West Hills.
- Yarin Cohen, 27, Tarzana.
- Ievgen Krachun, 43
⚖️ Charges & Potential Penalties
Arenas faces:
- One count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business
- One count of operating an illegal gambling business
- One count of making false statements to federal investigators
🧾 Next Steps & Public Reactions
- Arenas and the other defendants will appear in the District Court of Los Angeles on July 30, 2025, for their initial arraignment..
- No legal representatives for Arenas have offered public comment thus far.
- The case continues to unfold, with authorities including Homeland Security Investigations, LAPD, and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division handling the probe.
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