Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas has been arrested and charged by federal authorities for allegedly running an illegal gambling operation from a property he owns in Southern California. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the charges on Wednesday, following a detailed investigation that led to a federal indictment in Los Angeles.
Arenas, known during his basketball career as “Agent Zero,” is facing three charges: conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal agents. The case centers around a rented home in Encino, California, where high-stakes poker games were reportedly held.
According to court documents, Arenas is accused of working with Arthur Kats, who allegedly organized the gambling activities and arranged payments on behalf of other individuals involved. Prosecutors say text messages recovered during the investigation show discussions between Arenas and Kats regarding the operation of the games.
Another suspect, Ievgen Krachun, was identified as the person who directly oversaw the gambling sessions inside the property. Yevgeni Gershman, also charged in the case, was described by officials as a suspected organized crime figure from Israel.
Federal investigators claim the group profited from the gambling pot and also recruited women to serve drinks, provide massages, and offer companionship to players. A portion of the women’s earnings was allegedly collected by those involved in the ring.
The home was raided by Homeland Security agents in July 2022, during which cash was seized. Following the raid, Arenas filed a petition with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in response.
Arenas played his last NBA game with the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2011-2012 season and spent most of his career with the Washington Wizards. More recently, he has been known as the host of the “Gil’s Arena” podcast.
As of Wednesday, no legal representatives for Arenas or his co-defendants had been listed in court documents.
