Gilbert Arenas Faces Federal Charges for Illegal Poker Game
Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a federal indictment alleging his involvement in organizing illegal high-stakes poker games at his Encino, California mansion. This was reported by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Arenas officially faces charges for conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operation of an illegal gambling business, and for making false statements to federal investigators. The former basketball player appeared in the United States District Court on Wednesday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles and was released on $50,000 bail after pleading not guilty. The trial is scheduled for September 23.Yevgeni “Giora” Gershman, a suspected high-ranking member of an Israeli organized crime group, and four other associates were also charged and arrested in connection with the alleged illegal business, which, according to prosecutors, operated from September 2021 to July 2022. According to the indictment, Arenas rented out his Encino home and one of his associates organized the mansion for poker games, recruited accomplices to host, and collected rent from the accomplices on behalf of Arenas. The indictment alleges that Gershman and the other defendants ran illegal Pot Limit Omaha poker games, among others, and collected a portion of each pot played. Prosecutors say the group hired chefs, valets, and armed security guards for the games, as well as young women who served drinks, provided massages, and offered companionship to poker players in exchange for tips, and that the accomplices kept a portion of the waiters’ tips. Until Wednesday, it was not clear who the players in the games were. The U.S. Attorney’s office made no further comment. If found guilty, Arenas and the other defendants would face a maximum legal sentence of five years in federal prison for each charge. This is not the first time Arenas has been involved in problems related to card games. In December 2009, Arenas and his Washington Wizards teammate, Javaris Crittenton, were involved in an incident in which they brought weapons to the locker room, which Arenas later said was the result of provocations from a card game on a team flight. Arenas, 43, last played in the NBA in 2012 with the Memphis Grizzlies. The three-time All-Star averaged 20.7 points per game in parts of 11 seasons with the Wizards, Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and Orlando Magic.At this point in the case, his innocence is presumed, isn’t it? He has the same right as any other citizen to that presumption, and that’s how he should be treated.
Jerome Friedberg, Arenas’ lawyer
