Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas has been arrested and is facing multiple charges, including conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California revealed these details in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Arenas is accused of managing an illegal gambling operation from September 2021 to July 2022 at his mansion located in Encino, California. During a court appearance on Wednesday, he pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has since been released on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to return for a trial on September 23. Alongside Arenas, five other defendants face similar charges of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and operating such a business, including an individual identified as Yevgeni Gershman, who is described as a suspected organized crime figure from Israel.

Allegations concerning Arenas indicate he rented out his mansion to facilitate high-stakes illegal poker games, notably involving Pot Limit Omaha (PLO). Arthur Kats is suggested to have effectively run the gambling operations under Arenas' direction, preparing the mansion for these games, coordinating with accomplices, and collecting rental payments on Arenas' behalf. Reports indicate that these events included a rake collection, and that young women were hired to serve drinks, provide massages, and offer companionship to participants. Additional personnel, such as chefs, valets, and armed security guards, were also part of these alleged events. Should the defendants be found guilty, they face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count, and with Arenas charged on three counts, he could potentially face up to 15 years in prison. Prosecuting the case is Assistant United States Attorney Samuel J. Diaz from the Transnational Organized Crime Section. Arenas, who is 43 years old, enjoyed a successful NBA career spanning 11 seasons from 2001 to 2012, primarily being recognized for his time with the Washington Wizards. He notably earned three All-Star selections and three All-NBA honors during a three-year period from 2004-05 to 2006-07, putting up an impressive career average of 20.7 points and 5.3 assists per game. Currently, he has transitioned into the realm of podcasting, with his 'Gil's Arena' podcast achieving significant popularity, amassing over one million subscribers on YouTube.