Regina Jones, a woman Gilbert “Agent Zero” Arenas says is his business manager, is now a witness in the retired NBA star is ensnared in connected to an illegal poker ring
Gilbert “Agent Zero” Arenas remains free on bond posted by his wife but his release his supervised, federal court records show Credit: AP Photo/Nick Wass
The investigation into an illegal poker ring that used the Encino mansion of former NBA standout, Angeleno Gilbert “Agent Zero” Arenas, has led to a subpoena being issued to the basketball star’s business manager, Regina Jones, court records show.
Jones is now considered a witness in the case, which complicates his relationship with the woman whose attorney describes in a court filing as “deeply involved” in his “business affairs and his day-to-day life.” The attorney notes that Arenas is prohibited from contacting any witnesses in the sprawling federal case – which also ensnared a reputed Israeli mob boss; a professional poker player; and a convicted drug trafficker along with two others connected to the luxury gambling ring who were arrested in a federal sweep this summer – while he remains free on a $50,000 bond posted by his wife, influencer Melli Monaco-Arenas.
“It is not practical for Mr. Arenas to avoid any contact with Ms. Jones. In addition, this condition of release was intended primarily to protect witnesses; Mr. Arenas is not dangerous and certainly does not pose a threat to Ms. Jones,” the attorney, Jerome Friedberg, wrote. A judge agreed and issued an order allowing the two to communicate, according to the court record.
Four of Arenas’ five codefendants have also been released on bond with supervised release. Only one remains incarcerated, Yevgeni Gershman, a 49-year-old reputed mobster investigators call “a high-level member of a transnational organized crime organization.” Prosecutors argued that Gershman is a threat to witnesses cooperating in the case, which they say is connected to rackets in Los Angeles and overseas. Gershman, prosecutors say, ran the poker game out of Arenas’ home and took an illegal “rake,” or cut, from its proceeds.
Gershman was ordered held at a federal court hearing on August 7, according to court records. His attorney, David Kenner, calls that unfair in a recent filing, arguing that his client is a hard-working father who should be released on bail. In the filing, the attorney points to Gershman’s job with an electric company and gave the court a copy of his client’s U.S. Employment Authorization Card, which he was awarded in February 2025, before he was hit with federal charges.
Credit: Defense Filing US vs. Gershman
Kenner argues the government has not offered evidence of his client’s reputed connection to overseas criminal gangs. “In the course of these proceedings – and in press releases – the government has attacked Mr. Gershman’s character, accusing him of being connected to Israeli organized crime and committing extortion and other crimes,” Kenner wrote. “Despite the government’s protestations, Mr. Gershman is not a danger to
the community. There is no evidence that he has been involved in any criminal
activity since 2022, when Mr. Gershman was allegedly involved in an illegal
poker game and a sham marriage.”
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Gershman’s lawyer says the only evidence of any potential violence is contained in text messages recovered by the government from the convicted trafficker Allan Austria, who successfully argued to be released on bail, despite being a convicted felon in possession of multiple firearms found during his arrest. Prosecutors say Austria acted as Gershman’s right-hand, his muscle. But his attorney denied that and argued that federal prosecutors are simply pursuing a “celebrity” case by prosecuting Arenas and the others.
The poker games that led to July’s indictment ended three years ago, lawyers for the suspects say, immediately after Arenas’ Encino mansion was raided by federal officials.