Gilbert Arenas, a former NBA All-Star, and five other defendants have been detained in connection with a federal indictment alleging they ran a high-stakes poker room at Arenas’ Encino mansion.
Arenas, 43, is accused of making false statements to federal investigators and one count of conspiracy to run an illegal gambling business.
On Wednesday afternoon, he was scheduled to appear in the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles and be detained there. He could receive a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count if found guilty.
Yevgeni Gershman, 49, is a suspected organized crime figure from Israel, according to a press release from the US Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California.
According to the indictment released on Wednesday, Arenas and the other defendants operated an illegal gambling establishment between September 2021 and July 2022.
Arenas rented out the Encino mansion to the conspirators to host the illegal “Pot Limit Omaha” poker games, among other illegal games, for a fee that was either a percentage or a set hand payment.
According to the indictment, Gershman hired women who received tips, served drinks, provided massages, and offered companionship to the poker players. The women were also asked to pay a percentage of their profits by the business operators. The games were also equipped with armed security guards, valets, and chefs.
Arenas was a three-time All-Star, and All-NBA second-team selection in 2006-07 and third team in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
He averaged 20.7 points, 5.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 552 regular-season games (455 starts) for the Golden State Warriors (2001-03), Washington Wizards (2003-10), Orlando Magic (2010-11) and Memphis Grizzlies (2012).
Two days after arguing on a flight during a card game, he and fellow Washington teammate Javaris Crittenton brought guns into the locker room. His NBA career was overshadowed by that incident.
Arenas received a 50-game suspension for the final 50 games of the 2009-2010 NBA season after entering a guilty plea to felony gun possession.
In the second round of the 2001 NBA Draft, the Warriors selected Arenas out of Arizona (31st overall).
Source: Aljazeera
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