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Former NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Arrested in Federal Gambling Sting

Former NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Arrested in Federal Gambling Sting
Source: AP Photo

 

Former NBA All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas has been arrested and indicted on federal charges alleging his involvement in an illegal high-stakes gambling operation at his Encino, California mansion.

The 43-year-old ex-Washington Wizards star faces three counts: conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators. Each count carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison if convicted.

According to the indictment unsealed Wednesday, Arenas and five other defendants allegedly ran the underground poker operation from September 2021 to July 2022. Games reportedly included “Pot Limit Omaha” and other high-stakes formats, with organizers collecting a fee from each pot as either a percentage or a fixed amount per hand.

One co-defendant, 49-year-old Yevgeni Gershman, described in court filings as an “organized crime figure” from Israel, allegedly managed the logistics, hiring women to serve drinks, provide massages, and offer companionship to players. These women were reportedly required to pay a portion of their earnings back to the organizers. Chefs, valets, and armed security guards staffed the events, transforming Arenas’s rented Encino mansion into a luxury poker venue.

Arenas, a three-time NBA All-Star known for his electric scoring ability, played for the Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic, and Memphis Grizzlies. He averaged 20.7 points and 5.3 assists per game over his career but was suspended for 50 games in the 2009-2010 season after bringing guns into the Wizards’ locker room following a dispute over a card game with a teammate.

He is scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles.

With input from Al Jazeera

Michelle Larsen

Michelle Larsen is a 23-year-old journalist and editor for Wyoming Star. Michelle has covered a variety of topics on both local (crime, politics, environment, sports in the USA) and global issues (USA around the globe; Middle East tensions, European security and politics, Ukraine war, conflicts in Africa, etc.), shaping the narrative and ensuring the quality of published content on Wyoming Star, providing the readership with essential information to shape their opinion on what is happening. Michelle has also interviewed political experts on the matters unfolding on the US political landscape and those around the world to provide the readership with better understanding of these complex processes.