Gilbert Arenas, who played for teams including the Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors, was arrested Wednesday

Gilbert Arenas, who played for teams including the Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors, was arrested Wednesday

A former NBA All-star has been arrested alongside five others over a “high stakes” illegal poker ring at his Los Angeles mansion.

Gilbert Arenas, who played for teams including the Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors, was arrested Wednesday and faces federal charges over the arrangement at his residence in Encino, California.

The 43-year-old is charged with 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.

He made his initial appearance and was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

Arenas was charged alongside five defendants, who included Yevgeni Gershman, a suspected high-level member of an Israeli transnational organized crime group, according to the California Attorney General’s office.

  • Stamau123@lemmy.worldOP
    3·
    2 days ago

    Arenas “rented out an Encino mansion he owned for the purpose of hosting high-stakes illegal poker games,” the AG said in a press release, adding that at Arenas’ direction, Arthur Kats, 51, of West Hollywood, staged the mansion to host the games.

    Kats also found co-conspirators to host the games, and collected rent from the co-conspirators on Arenas’ behalf, the release added.

    So yeah, he was taking a rake