Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas has recently been arrested and charged with multiple 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. This information was disclosed in a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, on Wednesday.

Arenas is alleged to have managed an illegal gambling operation from September 2021 through July 2022 at a mansion in Encino, California. During a court appearance on Wednesday, he pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following his plea, Arenas was released on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled for trial on September 23. Five other individuals have also been charged with conspiracy and operating an illegal gambling business, including Yevgeni Gershman, described in the statement as a suspected organized crime figure from Israel.

The allegations suggest that Arenas rented his mansion to host high-stakes poker games, specifically Pot Limit Omaha (PLO). According to the statement, a man named Arthur Kats is believed to have managed the operation at Arenas' direction, taking steps to prepare the venue for the games, recruiting co-conspirators, and collecting payments on behalf of Arenas. Reports indicate that the poker events included arrangements for a rake and the employment of young women to serve drinks, provide massages, and offer companionship to the players. Additionally, chefs, valets, and armed security personnel were allegedly involved in these events. If convicted, the defendants, including Arenas, could face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count, with Arenas facing a potential maximum of 15 years given his three counts. Assistant United States Attorney Samuel J. Diaz from the Transnational Organized Crime Section is serving as the prosecutor. Known for his impactful 11-season NBA career from 2001 to 2012, primarily with the Washington Wizards, Arenas earned recognition for his skills on the court, notably during a peak period from 2004 to 2007, where he achieved multiple All-Star selections and All-NBA team honors. Recently, he has gained popularity as a podcaster with his Gil's Arena podcast, which boasts over 1 million subscribers on YouTube.