this text is a press release or news report detailing the indictment and arrest of several individuals involved in an illegal gambling operation and, in some cases, marriage fraud.
Here’s a breakdown of the key facts:
main Charges:
Illegal Gambling Business: Several individuals are charged with conspiracy to operate and operating an illegal gambling business.
False Statements to Federal investigators: One individual (Arenas) is charged with making false statements.
Marriage Fraud and Immigration Offenses: Yevgeni Gershman and Valentina Cojocari are charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, and making false statements on immigration documents.
Key Individuals and Their Alleged Roles:
arenas: Owned an Encino mansion used to host high-stakes illegal poker games.Also charged with making false statements to federal investigators.
Yevgeni Gershman (a.k.a. “Giora”): Suspected organized crime figure from Israel. Managed poker games, hired women for services to players, and charged them a “tax.” Also involved in a sham marriage for immigration purposes.
Evgenni Tourevski (a.k.a. “Eugene”): Managed illegal poker games.
Allan Austria (a.k.a. “Elica”): Managed illegal poker games.
Yarin Cohen (a.k.a. “YC”): Managed illegal poker games.
ievgen Krachun: Worked as a “chip runner,” tracking wins/losses and paying employees.
Arthur Kats: Staged the mansion for games, found co-conspirators, and collected rent for Arenas.
Valentina Cojocari: Participated in a sham marriage with Gershman for immigration benefits and lied on immigration forms.Details of the Operation:
The illegal gambling business operated from September 2021 to July 2022.
The games were hosted in a mansion in Encino.
The games involved “Pot Limit Omaha” poker and other illegal games.
The operation collected a “rake” from each pot.
Staff included hired women (for drinks, massages, companionship), chefs, valets, and armed security guards.
The women working the games were charged a “tax” on their earnings.
Legal Proceedings:
The indictment was returned on July 15 and unsealed today.
The defendants were arrested today.
They are scheduled for initial appearances and arraignments this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles.
if convicted, defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.
Investigating Agencies:
Homeland Security Investigations’ Northridge Office
Los angeles Police Department’s Major Crimes Division – Transnational Organized Crime Section
IRS Criminal Investigation
Prosecution:
* assistant United States Attorney Samuel J. Diaz is prosecuting the case.
Critically important Note: The press release includes a standard disclaimer that an indictment contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
