Ex-NBA star Gilbert Arenas arrested for hosting illegal poker games
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 investigators.
He was scheduled to make his initial appearance and be arraigned on Wednesday afternoon in the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. If convicted, he would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.
Those arrested on Wednesday included 49-year-old Yevgeni Gershman, described as a suspected organised crime figure from Israel, according to a news release from the US Attorney's Office of the Central District of California.
Arenas and the other defendants operated an illegal gambling business from September 2021 to July 2022, according to the indictment that was unsealed on Wednesday.
Arenas rented out the Encino mansion for the co-conspirators to host the illegal 'Pot Limit Omaha' poker games, among other illegal games, with a fee charged from each pot either as a percentage or a fixed amount per hand.
Gershman hired women who were paid in tips and served drinks, provided massages and offered companionship to the poker players, with the women charged a percentage of their earnings by the business operators, per the indictment. Chefs, valets and armed security guards were also hired to staff the games.
Arenas was a three-time All-Star, and All-NBA second-team selection in 2006-07 and third team in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
He averaged 20.7 points, 5.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 552 regular-season games (455 starts) for the Golden State Warriors (2001-03), Washington Wizards (2003-10), Orlando Magic (2010-11) and Memphis Grizzlies (2012).
His NBA career was overshadowed by an incident in December 2009 in which he and Washington teammate Javaris Crittenton brought guns into the locker room two days after having a dispute on a flight during a card game.
Arenas pleaded guilty to felony gun possession and was suspended for the final 50 games of the 2009-2010 NBA season.
The Warriors selected Arenas in the second round (31st overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft out of Arizona.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Jazeera
2 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
Trump appoints task force to ensure ‘safe, seamless' LA Olympics
United States President Donald Trump established a task force on the 2028 Olympic Games being held in Los Angeles that he said would ensure the event is 'safe, seamless and historically successful'. The 2028 games will be the first Olympics to be hosted by the US since the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. 'The LA Olympics is shaping up to be a wonderful moment for America. It's going to be incredible. It's so exciting,' Trump said on Tuesday as he signed an executive order at the White House establishing the task force. The White House did not immediately release the text of the order or details about the task force's work. At the event, Trump praised Gene Sykes, chair of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) board of directors, for the USOPC's move to effectively bar transgender women from competing in women's sports. 'The United States will not let men steal trophies from women at the 2028 Olympics,' Trump said. He questioned why he did not hear applause from the room when he praised Sykes for this, and then received some claps from some people in the room. Trump 'considers it a great honour to oversee this global sporting spectacle', White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, calling sport one of the president's 'greatest passions'. LA28 president and chair Casey Wasserman said the task force 'marks an important step forward in our planning efforts and reflects our shared commitment to delivering not just the biggest, but the greatest Games the world has ever seen in the summer of 2028.' During a briefing Tuesday afternoon, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the task force would 'coordinate across federal, state and local agencies to ensure streamlined visa processes, robust security and efficient transportation'. Members of the task force include Vice President JD Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, among others, Trump announced Tuesday. Along with the 2028 games, Trump has said that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, being hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, is among the events he is most looking forward to in his second term. In preparation for next year's competition, the governments of all three countries on Tuesday said they had held the first meeting of a trilateral coordinating council of government officials, industry leaders and security professionals discussing a variety of issues, including preparedness for any security threats ahead of the World Cup.
Al Jazeera
2 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
Son Heung-min makes Los Angeles trip ahead of MLS move from Spurs
South Korean sportsman Son Heung-min was in transit to the United States on Tuesday to officially join Los Angeles FC, a record-breaking signing for Major League Soccer, which is expected to be announced in the coming days. Videos on social media showed Son signing autographs for fans at Incheon airport in Seoul before he boarded a flight to Los Angeles. The Athletic and GiveMeSport reported on Tuesday that LAFC is paying a transfer fee of about $26.5m to $27m to acquire Son, shattering the current MLS record of $22m that Atlanta United paid for Emmanuel Latte Lath last offseason. Son, 33, announced over the weekend that he planned to leave Tottenham Hotspur, saying he had achieved everything that he could with the North London club and was interested in a new challenge. Son scored 172 goals and added 94 assists in 451 matches for Tottenham across all competitions, with 127 coming in Premier League play. A team captain, he helped the Spurs win the 2025 Europa League for the first major trophy of his career. Son has also scored 51 goals in 134 matches for South Korea, the country's second-leading goal-scorer of all time. Son played in the past three World Cups. The forward made his last appearance for Spurs, waving to the club's travelling fans after their preseason friendly against Newcastle United on Sunday. Son was given an emotional farewell by his teammates, Newcastle players and almost 65,000 fans at Seoul World Cup Stadium in his native South Korea. The game between the Premier League teams ended 1-1, with the high point being Son's second-half exit when he was surrounded by both sets of players before eventually sitting on the bench in tears. 'First, we had the walk around, and then the teammates gathered around, and he was emotional,' Tottenham coach Thomas Frank said. 'In the changing room, it was more of the same. I just said a few things, but not much, because it's about Sonny, and then he said a few things. It was beautiful.' Newcastle manager Eddie Howe also paid tribute to the South Korea forward. 'The reaction was instinctive from my players. I think that speaks volumes about him,' Howe said. 'I think he's seen as one of the game's great Premier League players. It's not just the talent he has but the way he has carried himself over the years.'
Al Jazeera
6 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
US House panel subpoenas Epstein files from Trump administration
Washington, DC – The Republican-led oversight committee in the United States House of Representatives has issued a subpoena to obtain records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, amid ongoing scrutiny about his case. Also on Tuesday, the panel's Republican chair James Comer issued deposition subpoenas for top officials from both major parties, including ex-President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Attorney General Bill Barr. Former FBI Director James Comey, a bitter rival of President Donald Trump, has also been called to testify. The Justice Department subpoena, addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, requests the release of 'all documents and communications relating or referring to' Epstein and his ex-girlfriend and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. Congress has the authority to issue subpoenas, which are legally binding requests for documents and appearances for questioning. Tuesday's subpoenas followed bipartisan subcommittee motions directing Comer to issue the requests. Since his death in federal custody in 2019, Epstein, a wealthy financier, has been the subject of interest and conspiracy theories. Some have speculated that his death was not a suicide, as was the medical examiner's official ruling. Conspiracy theorists have long argued that Epstein socialised with the rich and powerful — including royalty, top academics and government officials — who might want their association with him covered up. The case is proving to be a headache for Trump, who has been facing calls, including from prominent conservatives within his base, to release all Epstein-related documents. Trump had a personal relationship with Epstein and took several photos with him over the years. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Trump sent Epstein a letter containing sexual references on the financier's 50th birthday in 2003. The US president has denied the letter and sued the newspaper over the allegation. But that has not snuffed out the push to make everything the government knows about Epstein public. The Trump administration's refusal to release the records has fuelled unproven allegations that Epstein had a 'client list' of powerful people who abused girls and young women on his property. One of the most prominent conspiracy theories posits that Epstein may have used the list to blackmail his associates for personal gain or on behalf of a domestic or foreign intelligence service. Right-wing commentators, who align with Trump ideologically, have long championed that theory, in part due to Epstein's ties to the Clintons, who are Democrats. Last month, the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released a memo denying the existence of an incriminating client list or any evidence of blackmail. Instead, they said the files include tens of thousands of videos and images of sexual abuse of young girls and women, evidence that is sealed by the courts and would not be released to protect the privacy of the victims. 'Through this review, we found no basis to revisit the disclosure of those materials and will not permit the release of child pornography,' the memo read. 'One of our highest priorities is combatting child exploitation and bringing justice to victims. Perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein serves neither of those ends,' it added. The memo also asserted that Epstein died by suicide, dismissing conspiracy theories challenging the official version of the events. Epstein's crimes came to the authorities' attention long before his death in 2019. In 2008, Epstein faced accusations of sexually abusing teenage girls. But the Justice Department offered him a plea deal that saw him serve 13 months in a work-release jail programme, instead of a possible life sentence if the case had gone to trial. Epstein was re-arrested in July 2019 for sex trafficking and died in his prison cell weeks later at the age of 66. One of Epstein's associates, Maxwell, remains in prison after a conviction on charges of child sex trafficking and abusing teenage girls. The Justice Department, under Trump, has sent representatives to interview Maxwell in prison amid the recent scrutiny, and last week, she was moved to a minimum-security facility to serve the remainder of her 20-year sentence. In a court filing on Tuesday, Maxwell indicated she opposed the government's efforts to release grand jury transcripts related to her case.
