
Gilbert Arenas, who formerly played in the NBA, was arrested by authorities on Wednesday after he was indicted by the federal government for hosting illegal high-stakes poker games at his Encino residence in California.
He was arrested and charged with conspiracy to host an illegal gambling business, running an illegal gambling business, and giving false information to federal agents.
The former NBA star pleaded not guilty when he was charged at the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles; he was later released on a $50,000 bail. He is expected to appear in court again on September 23, when his trial will continue.
The agents who prosecuted Arenas claimed that the former basketball player hosted the illegal gambling business between September 2021 and July 2022 in collaboration with Yevgeni “Giora” Gershman, who had been fingered in Israeli organized crime, and four other individuals.
Things included in the indictment paper include Arenas renting his apartment for poker programs that feature valets, chefs, security, and women in charge of drinks and delivering information.
This case is not the first in which Arenas has been involved; he was previously before a disciplinary panel in 2009 due to a locker room gun incident that came from a card game controversy.