The quiet affluence of Encino, California, was shattered recently by a major federal crackdown, ensnaring former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas in what prosecutors describe as a sophisticated illegal poker ring. This high-profile arrest highlights an escalating federal effort against clandestine gambling networks across Southern California, bringing a dramatic spotlight to the intersection of celebrity and alleged criminal enterprise.
Arenas, known for his electrifying basketball career, found himself at the center of an elaborate scheme operating from his Encino mansion. Federal agents claim the property, situated on Gable Drive, was transformed into an exclusive high-stakes “Pot Limit Omaha” poker club between September 2021 and July 2022. Despite the serious allegations, Arenas quickly took to social media, asserting his innocence by claiming he merely rented out the residence and was not actively involved in the illicit activities, posting, “Im Back on the Streets. This aint got shyt to do with me ‘ just rented the house’ Wasnt apart.”
However, court documents paint a different picture, suggesting Arenas wasn’t just a landlord but allegedly orchestrated a full-fledged criminal operation. This sophisticated poker ring reportedly featured armed security, professional dealers, and even young women hired to provide “companionship” to players. Images of custom poker tables bearing the “ARENAS POKER CLUB” logo and his basketball silhouette were allegedly sent to co-conspirators, indicating a significant personal investment in the venture.
Central to this intricate illegal gambling operation is Yevgeni “Giora” Gershman, a 49-year-old Woodland Hills resident identified by federal prosecutors as a “suspected organized crime figure from Israel.” Gershman allegedly managed the illicit games, further compounding the complexity of the case by simultaneously running a marriage fraud scheme with Valentina Cojocari. His involvement underscores a troubling trend of international criminal elements infiltrating the San Fernando Valley.
The scale of the “Arenas Poker Club” allegedly rivaled legitimate casinos in its professional setup. Prosecutors detailed a full-service operation complete with chefs, valets, and staff who collected tips for drinks and massages. The operation generated substantial profits by collecting a “rake”—a percentage fee from each pot—transforming what might appear to be friendly games into a highly lucrative criminal business. One particular game in July 2022 reportedly involved approximately 26 players and over a dozen staff members, showcasing the sheer ambition of the alleged enterprise.
This case resonates with broader enforcement actions targeting illicit gambling and organized crime in California. Federal authorities have recently dismantled various illegal operations, including “slap houses” that proliferated during the pandemic, and have actively pursued Armenian organized crime syndicates in the San Fernando Valley. The parallels drawn to past cases, such as the 2015 conviction of Moshe “Moshe the Religious” Matsri—also linked to Israeli organized crime and sophisticated money laundering—highlight the persistent challenge of transnational criminal enterprises in the region.
News of the federal indictment and Arenas’ arrest sparked immediate public and media reactions. Social media buzzed with disbelief, with many users questioning how hosting poker games could lead to such severe federal charges. Notably, former NBA star Kwame Brown, with whom Arenas has a long-standing feud, publicly celebrated the arrest, quipping, “I feel so good, it’s like my [expletive] birthday…Gil, you in the slammer.” Arenas faces three federal charges: conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators, for which he has pleaded not guilty.
Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to five years in federal prison upon conviction. The ongoing investigation, a collaborative effort by Homeland Security Investigations, the LAPD’s Major Crimes Division, and IRS Criminal Investigation, suggests that this complex case, built over months, may yet yield additional charges or defendants as authorities continue to unravel the full scope of the alleged poker ring.
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