Ex-NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Risks Prison Due to Alleged Poker Scheme

Gilbert Arenas, a former NBA star, could spend up to 5 years in prison if convicted of running an illegal gambling scheme in California. Although he has pleaded not guilty, federal prosecutors believe that he ran a complex high-stakes poker operation.

The NBA Star Is Believed to Have Run an Illegal Gambling Den

Arenas, alongside five other people, were arrested due to their connection with an alleged poker ring inside a mansion in Encino, Los Angeles. Federal prosecutors believe that the illegal scheme offered high-stakes poker games and operated as a highly organized business.

In addition to offering illegal poker, Arenas and his co-conspirators would allegedly hire women who would assist the operation by offering companionship to poker players participating in the illegal games. The mansion, which was rented by Arenas, allegedly had armed security and chefs hired to assist with the operation.

The complaint includes photos that appear to show an expensive poker table with the words “Arenas poker club” printed on its surface.

Arenas has now been arrested alongside some of the other people believed to have been associated with the alleged illegal gambling business.

Arenas Says He Is Innocent

Arenas and five others were arrested last week. Other people named in the case include Evgenni Tourevski, Yarin Cohen, Ievgen Krachun, and Yevgeni Gershman.

The ex-NBA stat has now been charged with a single count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators, each.

The false statements charge is related to Arenas’s alleged lying in response to questions about the poker operation. Prosecutors said that Arenas told officers that he was not involved in the scheme at all, despite the prosecution’s insistence to the contrary.

Arenas was ultimately released on a $50,000 bond and has so far insisted that he is innocent. He released a video on social media on the day of his arrest, saying that the police “cannot hold” him since he “wasn’t a part of the festivities.”

However, the case isn’t over yet as the former NBA star now risks up to five years in prison due to his alleged involvement in the operation.