Former Washington Wizards All-Star Gilbert Arenas was arrested Wednesday after federal authorities accused him of running an “illegal gambling business in which high-stakes poker games” were played at his mansion in Los Angeles.
Arenas, 43, 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 authorities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced the charges on Wednesday. Arenas was scheduled to be arraigned at an initial court appearance the same day.
Five others — including Yevgeni Gershman, whom prosecutors called a “suspected organized crime figure from Israel” — were also arrested and face similar charges.
“From September 2021 to July 2022, Gershman, Arenas and the other defendants operated an illegal gambling business,” the attorney’s office wrote in a statement. “Arenas rented out an Encino mansion he owned for the purpose of hosting high-stakes illegal poker games.”
Betting pots from the games featured a tax collected by the organizers and young women who served drinks and gave massages to the players, prosecutors said. The organizers reportedly collected a share of the women’s tips.
“Chefs, valets and armed security guards also were hired to staff these illegal poker games,” federal prosecutors said.
If convicted of all charges, Arenas could face up to 15 years in federal prison.
Arenas, known to Wizards fans as Agent Zero for his jersey number, impressed fans with a swagger and scoring ability on the court.
He was a three-time All-Star and All-Pro selection during his best seasons with the Wizards, averaging 27.7 points and 5.7 assists per game between 2004 and 2006.
His NBA career came to a screeching halt a few years later.
Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton were involved in a dispute stemming from a card game on a team flight during the 2009-10 season. Two days after the flight, Arenas brought four guns to the locker room and set them in front of Crittenton’s locker with a sign telling him to “PICK 1.” Crittenton then took out his own gun.
Arenas later pleaded guilty to carrying an unlicensed pistol, a felony in the District. He was sentenced to two years’ probation and 30 days in a halfway house. The NBA later suspended him for 50 games for pointing finger guns at teammates before a game.
He ended his NBA career with a pair of unproductive stints with the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies before spending a final season with the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association in 2012-13.
After his playing days, Arenas embarked on a broadcast career. He has hosted the popular “Gil’s Arena” podcast since 2023 and served as a co-host of the “Nightcap” podcast alongside ex-NFL players Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson.
Arenas has not publicly commented on this week’s charges, though he continued to post WNBA commentary on social media on Wednesday. His podcast has not updated since July 17.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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