Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas has been arrested and charged with several serious offenses, including one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, one count of operating an illegal gambling business, and one count of making false statements to federal investigators, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. These charges relate to allegations that Arenas operated an illegal gambling enterprise from September 2021 to July 2022 at his mansion in Encino, California.

In a court appearance on Wednesday, Arenas pleaded not guilty to the charges and was subsequently released on a $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear for his trial on September 23. Alongside Arenas, five other defendants have also been charged with conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and illegal gambling. Notably, one of the co-defendants, Yevgeni Gershman, has been identified as a suspected organized crime figure from Israel.

Arenas is accused of facilitating high-stakes poker games at his mansion, with particular mention of Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) games. The operation reportedly was run by Arthur Kats under Arenas' direction, who is alleged to have organized the events, engaged co-conspirators to host the games, and collected payments on behalf of Arenas. The claims suggest that these poker games not only featured a rake but also involved hiring young women for various services, alongside establishing a full-service experience with chefs, valets, and armed security guards present during the events. Should the defendants be convicted, they face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count, with Arenas potentially facing a maximum of 15 years given his three charges. The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorney Samuel J. Diaz from the Transnational Organized Crime Section. Notably, Arenas, 43, is recognized for his 11-season career in the NBA, particularly for his impactful performances with the Washington Wizards, where he achieved three All-Star selections and three All-NBA honors during a standout period from 2004-05 to 2006-07.