Poker Ring Investigation Expands Around Gilbert Arenas’ Property
Gershman Set to Admit Guilt
A significant illegal gambling investigation in Los Angeles is progressing, with Yevgeni Gershman, an individual linked to organized crime from Israel, agreeing to plead guilty. He faces multiple charges such as conspiracy to run an illegal gambling operation, money laundering, illegal possession of weapons, and providing false information on immigration documents.
Gershman, aged 50, was arrested last July together with former NBA player Gilbert Arenas and four other individuals: Evgenni Tourevski (49, Tarzana), Allan Austria (53, West Hills), Yarin Cohen (28, Tarzana), and Ievgen Krachun (44, Tarzana).
Authorities allege that between September 2021 and July 2022, this group organized high-stakes poker games at Arenas’ home in Encino, California. The events were reportedly lavish, featuring bartenders, chefs, valet parking, armed security personnel, and young women who provided social and messaging services for tips.
Alongside these gambling charges, Gershman is also accused of entering into a fraudulent marriage to obtain permanent residency in the United States.
Gilbert Arenas Denies Involvement
Gilbert Arenas denies all accusations against him. He is charged with conspiracy and operation of an illegal gambling business and has also been accused of lying to federal investigators. His trial is set for May.
The probe began in July 2022 following a raid by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration at Arenas’ mansion during an active poker game. Surveillance from a DEA aircraft reportedly captured guests fleeing the scene during the raid.
Investigators targeted the location after a gambler reported losing $1.2 million in a single night and claimed he was threatened by individuals connected to Israeli organized crime, identifying Gershman as the organizer of these games.
Context and Broader Investigation
Three years prior, Emil Lahaziel, an Israeli national linked to similar crime networks, was fatally shot outside a Hollywood Hills residence that had hosted an illegal poker event. While Gershman wasn’t implicated in Lahaziel’s death, investigators say this incident helped reveal a broader network of clandestine poker operations in Encino, Sherman Oaks, and the Hollywood Hills.
Currently, two suspects face charges related to Lahaziel’s murder. Meanwhile, prosecutors are expanding their investigation, examining connections between numerous underground gambling rings throughout Los Angeles, indicating the case is ongoing.
