Former NBA Player Gilbert Arenas Arrested for Illegal Gambling Operation
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas and five others were arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly hosting illegal high-stakes poker games at his home in California, as announced by the Department of Justice. Arenas faced three felony charges and was set to appear in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
A federal indictment stated that Arenas operated an illegal gambling ring from September 2021 to July 2022. Prosecutors claimed he organized poker games at his Encino mansion, while others, including Yevgeni Gershman, who was linked to an Israeli organized crime group, managed various poker variants.
Arenas did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It was unclear who was representing Gershman and another individual, Arthur Kats.
Prosecutors alleged that Arenas and Kats collaborated to set up the games, exchanging texts starting in October 2021. Arenas even had a poker table labeled "ARENAS POKER CLUB" with a silhouette of a man in a No. 0 jersey with "ARENAS" on it. Text messages in the indictment showed Arenas paying Kats over $14,000 for managing the games and expressing interest in earning a rake from the wagers.
The poker games began in February 2022 and occurred regularly, with Arenas suggesting ways to attract more players, including filming a YouTube episode while concealing participants' identities. Prosecutors also accused Arenas of lying to customs officials in September 2022 about his involvement in the gambling ring.
Arenas was charged with conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators. He had a successful NBA career, earning over $160 million, making three All-Star teams, and finishing eighth in MVP voting in 2007. He currently hosts a popular podcast called "Gil's Arena."
In the past, Arenas pleaded guilty to federal gun possession in 2010 and faced penalties, including jail time and probation, after bringing guns into the Washington Wizards locker room. The NBA also suspended him for 50 games. Gershman, another individual involved, faced charges related to marriage fraud and exploitation of workers at the poker games.
Arenas' son, Alijah, a freshman guard for the USC basketball team, recently suffered a knee injury that will sideline him for 6-8 months. Earlier, he survived a severe car crash, where bystanders rescued him from his burning Tesla Cybertruck.