Former NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Indicted in Alleged Illegal Gambling Ring Operating from Southern California Home
Former Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas has been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice for conspiracy, fraud, and making false statements in connection with an alleged illegal gambling operation conducted from his Southern California home. The indictment, obtained by Fox News Digital, reveals that Arenas is accused of orchestrating high-stakes poker games and coordinating with other individuals to run the scheme. According to the court documents, the illegal gambling business was allegedly operated from a property in Encino, California, where Arenas rented a home to host the activities.
Arenas, who played for over a decade in the NBA, was taken into custody on Wednesday. The indictment charges him with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, one count of operating an illegal gambling business, and another count of making false statements to federal investigators. Court documents do not list an attorney for Arenas or the other defendants, indicating that legal representation has not been disclosed at this point in the case.
The federal indictment also details the alleged roles of other individuals involved in the operation. Arthur Kats is accused of handling rental payments for others who were believed to be part of the scheme, while text messages allegedly show conversations between Arenas and Kats regarding the games. Ievgen Krachun, another defendant, is said to have overseen the gambling activities taking place within the home. Yevgeni Gershman, a defendant described by the DOJ as a suspected organized crime figure from Israel, is also among those accused in the case.
According to the indictment, the defendants in the case are alleged to have received money from prize pots and recruited women to provide services such as drinks, massages, and companionship to gamblers. A portion of the women’s earnings from these services was collected by the players involved in the operation, as stated by the DOJ. The home that Arenas owned was raided in July 2022, during which Homeland Security investigators seized money. Arenas subsequently filed a petition with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in response to the search.
Arenas last appeared in an NBA game during the 2011-12 season with the Memphis Grizzlies and spent the majority of his career with the Washington Wizards. In recent years, he has gained recognition for hosting the ‘Gil’s Arena’ podcast. This case has drawn significant attention for its connection to criminal figures and the alleged exploitation of individuals for services within the gambling operation.