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CyKnickal wrote:Details. Taking a cut from the girls...wow. Big pimpin'.

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/07/30/sport/gilbert-arenas-arrest-spt

Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas was arrested Wednesday and is accused by the Department of Justice of being a part of a high-stakes illegal gambling ring that ran out of one of his California homes.

Arenas, 43, is facing a federal indictment on a count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, one count of operating an illegal gambling business and one count of making false statements to federal investigators. According to the Justice Department, Arenas rented out an Encino, California, mansion to host illegal poker games.

If convicted, Arenas faces up to five years in prison on each charge.

According to The Associated Press, Arenas’ attorney Jerome Friedberg said outside the courthouse that he hadn’t had much time to speak with his client and couldn’t comment on the case.

“At this point in the case, he is presumed innocent, right?” Friedberg said. “He has the same right as any other citizen to that presumption and that’s how he should be treated.”

CNN has reached out to Friedberg for comment.

Arenas is a former three-time All-Star who played 11 seasons in the NBA, most notably with the Washington Wizards. In more recent years, he’s become a popular podcast host on “Gil’s Arena,” in which he and other former players discuss basketball.

According to the indictment filed by prosecutors in Los Angeles, Arenas directed Arthur Kats, 51, to stage the games. Kats would then prepare the home and collect rent from the other individuals accused of being involved in the scheme – Yevgeni Gershman, who the department describes as a “suspected organized crime figure from Israel”; Evgenni Tourevski; Allan Austria; Yarin Cohen; and Ievgen Krachun – would then manage the illegal gambling being done at the home, according to the indictment.

All the other defendants face charges of one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of operating an illegal gambling business. No lawyers for Arenas or the other defendants were listed in court documents on Wednesday afternoon.

Justice Department investigators accused Arenas’ co-defendants of collecting money off each prize pot, inviting people to play in the games, hiring young women to “serve drinks, provide massages and offer companionship” to the people playing the games and then collecting a portion of what the women earned from their work.

According to the indictment, investigators obtained text messages between Arenas and Kats that show the two planning to host alleged illegal poker games at the mansion and even came up with poker tables that bore Arenas’ name and image. The two also discussed financial matters and payments over text messages, according to the indictment.

The text messages cited in the indictment show the defendants scheduling the alleged illegal gambling nights, financial matters, recruiting women and dealers to work at the house, recruiting security and other matters, according to prosecutors.

The indictment says Arenas sent text messages asking about money collected at the games, complaining about players being intoxicated and trying to find hosts for the gambling nights.

The home used for the alleged illegal gambling nights was raided in the early hours of July 20, 2022, with US Department of Homeland Security investigators seizing money that was found in the master bedroom of the home. The former Washington Wizard attempted to get that money back by filing a petition with the US Customs and Border Protection.

Prosecutors say Arenas falsely told them he was not involved in the gambling that was taking place at the home.

“In fact, as defendant Arenas then knew, defendant Arenas had knowingly provided gambling equipment at the Gable House to be used to host an illegal poker game on July 19, 2022, had knowingly rented out the Gable House to be used to host the illegal poker game on July 19, 2022, and was collecting rent from the hosts for operating an illegal poker game at the Gable House on July 19, 2022,” the indictment states.

One of the defendants faces additional accusations.

Gershman is charged with entering into a sham marriage with Valintina Cojocari and the two of them face three additional charges: one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud and making a false statement on an immigration document. Prosecutors allege Gershman paid Cojocari for her participation in the marriage.

According to prosecutors, they both submitted false information on immigration forms.



It's like a Jewish Scorsese movie.

Maxthirty wrote:

sikma42 wrote:

Maxthirty wrote:It’s illegal but does anyone really care?

Think his family may care when he’s away in jail.

It was an incredible stupid decision.


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Just because he was arrested that don’t mean it was a stupid decision.


Rosa Parks was arrested.

Ckay wrote:

Watch on YouTube

California Gold wrote:

BrianInPhilly wrote:

Handlez wrote:So he setup high stakes gambling at his house.

Who gives a ****?

None of my business nor should it concern anyone else.

Put all those resources to use and go find every meth cooking house there is in the states. And go after every human trafficking lowlives, especially involving children. Etc.

There's far bigger evil fish to fry.

Agreed. I mean people can gamble legally through sportsbooks now. But from your house it's some terrible thing? Ridiculous.

Guaranteed the US will look back on this in 50 years, 20 years, heck 5 years and the vast majority of the population 95% will ask why the heck this was illegal in 2025. People can killed constantly, women assaulted, guys are committing suicide at record rates, kids being abused/neglected, mental health crisis all day every day - So sorry I'm not concerned with what rich people do in their house & choosing to gamble. The law makes no sense. No-one is being harmed by someone in a gabling ring, unless you're arguing the route of someone being addicted to gambling or whatnot but that's on that individual person and not on the person setting up the opportunity for them to harm themselves (last I checked beer stores aren't held liable if someone's mental health spirals from drinking alcohol).

I think you're missing why he was arrested. It's not because of gambling that went on in his home. It's the fact that he was making money from it in a state where gambling is illegal. You can't just start up your casino business wherever you want in a state where gambling is illegal.

Also sports betting is illegal in California. States have their own laws. Even in states where gambling is permitted, you would need a permit to open a casino. Hell you need one in Nevada, there's a gaming commission that regulates things. You may see this as harmless but its the precedence that it sets where people can start running this as a business and it getting out of control. A lot of Casinos have things they are held to by state's regulation boards.

CometGM wrote:

CyKnickal wrote:

azcatz11 wrote:
I don't get it either. How is this even a crime. Instead of going after violent criminals they are going after poker house games. If you start a GoFundMe for Gil I will contribute for him to make bail

You guys sound like you wanna give him a handjob, too.

"According to the indictment, investigators obtained text messages between Arenas and Kats that show the two planning to host alleged illegal poker games at the mansion and even came up with poker tables that bore Arenas’ name and image. The two also discussed financial matters and payments over text messages, according to the indictment.

The text messages cited in the indictment show the defendants scheduling the alleged illegal gambling nights, financial matters, recruiting women and dealers to work at the house, recruiting security and other matters, according to prosecutors.

The indictment says Arenas sent text messages asking about money collected at the games, complaining about players being intoxicated and trying to find hosts for the gambling nights."

"Just renting the house".

And to think there are dudes ready to pull down their pants, bend over and shoot money out of their asses for this guy's bail. WTF. What an absurd level of idolatry, like he's putting food in your children's mouths.

Damn dude, you're taking this way too extra. These guys were just trying to point out that there are way bigger fish to fry.
You seem fine with authorities taking the tax money coming out of your paycheck for this type of stuff instead of using resources for way more serious crimes.

CyKnickal wrote:

azcatz11 wrote:

Handlez wrote:So he setup high stakes gambling at his house.

Who gives a ****?

None of my business nor should it concern anyone else.

Put all those resources to use and go find every meth cooking house there is in the states. And go after every human trafficking lowlives, especially involving children. Etc.

There's far bigger evil fish to fry.

I don't get it either. How is this even a crime. Instead of going after violent criminals they are going after poker house games. If you start a GoFundMe for Gil I will contribute for him to make bail

You guys sound like you wanna give him a handjob, too.

"According to the indictment, investigators obtained text messages between Arenas and Kats that show the two planning to host alleged illegal poker games at the mansion and even came up with poker tables that bore Arenas’ name and image. The two also discussed financial matters and payments over text messages, according to the indictment.

The text messages cited in the indictment show the defendants scheduling the alleged illegal gambling nights, financial matters, recruiting women and dealers to work at the house, recruiting security and other matters, according to prosecutors.

The indictment says Arenas sent text messages asking about money collected at the games, complaining about players being intoxicated and trying to find hosts for the gambling nights."

"Just renting the house".

And to think there are dudes ready to pull down their pants, bend over and shoot money out of their asses for this guy's bail. WTF. What an absurd level of idolatry, like he's putting food in your children's mouths.

California Gold wrote:

BrianInPhilly wrote:

Handlez wrote:So he setup high stakes gambling at his house.

Who gives a ****?

None of my business nor should it concern anyone else.

Put all those resources to use and go find every meth cooking house there is in the states. And go after every human trafficking lowlives, especially involving children. Etc.

There's far bigger evil fish to fry.

Agreed. I mean people can gamble legally through sportsbooks now. But from your house it's some terrible thing? Ridiculous.

Guaranteed the US will look back on this in 50 years, 20 years, heck 5 years and the vast majority of the population 95% will ask why the heck this was illegal in 2025. People can killed constantly, women assaulted, guys are committing suicide at record rates, kids being abused/neglected, mental health crisis all day every day - So sorry I'm not concerned with what rich people do in their house & choosing to gamble. The law makes no sense. No-one is being harmed by someone in a gabling ring, unless you're arguing the route of someone being addicted to gambling or whatnot but that's on that individual person and not on the person setting up the opportunity for them to harm themselves (last I checked beer stores aren't held liable if someone's mental health spirals from drinking alcohol).

I think you're missing why he was arrested. It's not because of gambling that went on in his home. It's the fact that he was making money from it in a state where gambling is illegal. You can't just start up your casino business wherever you want in a state where gambling is illegal.

Also sports betting is illegal in California. States have their own laws. Even in states where gambling is permitted, you would need a permit to open a casino. Hell you need one in Nevada, there's a gaming commission that regulates things. You may see this as harmless but its the precedence that it sets where people can start running this as a business and it getting out of control. A lot of Casinos have things they are held to by state's regulation boards.

Handlez wrote:

CyKnickal wrote:

azcatz11 wrote:
I don't get it either. How is this even a crime. Instead of going after violent criminals they are going after poker house games. If you start a GoFundMe for Gil I will contribute for him to make bail

You guys sound like you wanna give him a handjob, too.

"According to the indictment, investigators obtained text messages between Arenas and Kats that show the two planning to host alleged illegal poker games at the mansion and even came up with poker tables that bore Arenas’ name and image. The two also discussed financial matters and payments over text messages, according to the indictment.

The text messages cited in the indictment show the defendants scheduling the alleged illegal gambling nights, financial matters, recruiting women and dealers to work at the house, recruiting security and other matters, according to prosecutors.

The indictment says Arenas sent text messages asking about money collected at the games, complaining about players being intoxicated and trying to find hosts for the gambling nights."

"Just renting the house".

And to think there are dudes ready to pull down their pants, bend over and shoot money out of their asses for this guy's bail. WTF. What an absurd level of idolatry, like he's putting food in your children's mouths.

Oh my gosh people gambled their own money!

What a crime against humanity to use your own money to play poker!

Get a grip, ya little dweeb.

Grow the F up and stop slobbing on government knob.

junot111 wrote:The wording is so misleading lol I was trying to figure out when did Gilbert arenas become an Israeli crime figure

greenbeans wrote:People over here sticking up for Gilbert Arenas. Quite rich. Project more of your weird insecurities please.

FrodoFraggins wrote:

og15 wrote:

FrodoFraggins wrote:

Is Gilbert Arenas dumb? Yes. If he did not have basketball skill and therefore money, he would have gotten himself into trouble that he couldn't get out of already.

Frye saying, "Gil please no" in this clip linked below is exactly what Gil still doesn't get as an adult. Yes, this stuff is "funny", but it's funny in that these guys are laughing at, not with you, and are saying, what a dummy and don't really want to be associated with you "outside".

https://youtube.com/shorts/HT0q7PkHdxo?si=POtwf4VWXJFARkDk

We can disagree on whether gambling should be regulated as it is, etc, etc, but if you know the laws of where you live and make the decisions you do to go against them, then you invite the consequences.