(NewsNation) — Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas is among six people who were arrested on Wednesday on a federal indictment alleging they operated an illegal gambling business.
Arenas, 43, is charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and high-stakes poker games which investigators alllege were held at Arenas’ California home.
Arenas, who was known as “Agent Zero” during his pro basketball career, was among the group of defendants who were named in a federal indictment. Among those arrested was a suspected high-level member of an Israeli transational organized crime group, federal prosecutors announced.
Arenas was also charged with one count of operating an illegal gambling business and one count of making false statements to federal investigators. He was scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on Wednesday afternoon in Los Angeles.
The other defendants, who were charged in connection with running the illegal gambling business, included:
- Yevgeni Gershman, 49, a.k.a. “Giora,” of Woodland Hills; a suspected organized crime figure from Israel
- Evgenni Tourevski, 48, a.k.a. “Eugene,” of Tarzana;
- Allan Austria, 52, a.k.a. “Elica,” of West Hills;
- Yarin Cohen, 27, a.k.a. “YC,” of Tarzana; and
- Ievgen Krachun, 43, of Tarzana
Who is Gilbert Arenas?
Arenas played 11 years in the NBA after he was drafted in the second round of the 2001 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. A three-time All-Star, Arenas moved into a starring role with the Washington Wizards, and averaged 27.7 points and 5.7 assists between 2004-2007 before his career was slowed by injuries.
During the 2009-10 NBA season, Arenas played in just 32 games due to a suspension stemming from a suspension after he was found to have brought empty guns into the Wizards locker room over an argument linked to gambling debts. League officials said the incident reportedly began during a high-stakes card game.
Arenas, who later played for the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic, retired from the NBA after the 2011-12 season.
This is a developing story. NewsNation will update the story with more information as it becomes available.
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Author: Jeff Arnold
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