Overview

• A federal indictment unsealed July 30 charges Arenas with conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating the business and making false statements to investigators.
• Prosecutors contend the poker ring ran from September 2021 to July 2022 at an Encino mansion hosting high-stakes “Pot Limit Omaha” games that levied a rake and employed chefs, servers and armed security.
• Yevgeni “Giora” Gershman, identified as a suspected Israeli organized crime figure, is among six defendants and faces additional counts for marriage fraud and false immigration statements.
• The operation was uncovered through a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Los Angeles Police Department and the IRS Criminal Investigation Unit.
• If convicted, Arenas faces up to five years in federal prison per count and must return for a status hearing on September 15 before trial begins on September 23.