Gilbert Arenas, a renowned figure in the NBA, was arrested at his mansion for hosting illegal activities in Los Angeles. The Former NBA All-Star has been hosting illegal Poker Games in his mansion, with five other people, who are all under arrest. Moreover, this incident happened on July 30, when more details on his illegal activities were revealed. Gilbert Arenas was an asset of the Washington Wizards, who took the wrong path in his mansion for entertainment. Furthermore, his mansion in Encino, Los Angeles, was provided on rent by the ex-NBA All-Star for hosting his ‘entertainment activity’. The illegal Poker games continued to be held from September 2021 to July 2022 in the rented mansion from Arenas.
According to the indictment in Los Angeles, the mansion was not only known for organizing illegal poker games there. While the people played poker, a few young women served them drinks, provided massages, and offered company in the game. According to their services, they were tipped by the poker players.
Gilbert Arenas appeals the Court for not Guilty
Gilbert Arenas is charged with two accusations, including running an illegal gambling business and lying to the Federal Investigators. In Los Angeles, Gilbert Arenas stood in the Federal court, while the case was briefed to the Judge. He has appealed to the Court for not guilty and was released on the Judge’s instructions with a $50,000 bond. Moreover, the US Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian has set the next trial date for September 23, where he must defend himself as not guilty.
Also read: Why Oprah Winfrey Faced Backlash After Hawaii Tsunami Alert
People included in the Illegal Poker Games, except Gilbert Arenas
Among the five people arrested along with Gilbert Arenas, one of them is Yevgeni Gershman, who is suspected of being a full-blown criminal from Israel. According to the indictment, all five people, along with Gilbert Arenas, have some part in setting up the illegal game. Arenas’s associate, Arthur Kats, was the one responsible for preparing the mansion for poker and its arrangements on his instructions. Additionally, he was allotted the task of recruiting collaborators for the game and collecting the mansion’s rent instead of Arenas.
Apart from that, Gershman and three others from Arthur Kats were handling the illegal poker games, where the players had to pay a fee to play. The organizers hired chefs, guards, and valets to provide services between the games, along with the young women. A portion of the tips earned by them has to be paid to the organizers, who used them in other arrangements.
The indictment has also gathered some text messages that Arenas and Kats exchanged to finalize the game arrangements. Additionally, an image has also shown up, which Arenas sent to Arthur Kats for the poker game. It included a poker table on which ‘Arenas Poker Club’ was printed, and an image of a basketball player wearing a jersey imprinted with Arenas’ name.
Apart from that, one of the indictment’s evidence accuses Gershman of sending inappropriate texts to a young woman. In May 2022, he texted a woman and asked if she was open to prostituting at the poker game organized at the Gable House, Los Angeles suburbs.
What will happen if Gilbert Arenas and others are convicted?
If Gilbert Arenas and the other five people are convicted after being proven guilty of the charges, they have to spend the next five years in Federal Prison. Moreover, Gilbert Arenas was an outstanding basketball player who holds a three-time All-Star NBA title. 2012 was the last year when Arenas played in the NBA, as he joined the Shanghai Sharks of China in 2012-13.
Arenas has not been on trial for the first time. He was involved in several incidents that got him in trouble. It was December 2009 when he got into trouble, along with his teammate from the Washington Wizards, Javaris Crittenton. Both players sneak guns into the locker room of players because they got into an argument over a card game. Moreover, it shows Gilbert Arenas has always been quick to respond in an exaggerated way. Furthermore, he was declared guilty because of illegal gun possession and its unauthorized use. Apart from that, he was also suspended from playing the Final 50 games of the 2009-10 season as a consequence.
Also read: Chando’s Tacos Abruptly Closes All Sacramento Locations
Conclusion
This illegal practice by the NBA player has deeper secrets than it looks. Moreover, Gilbert Arenas has appealed to the court for not guilty and has to prove himself not guilty to avoid conviction. While poker games with cards and fun are allowed, the poker game they played allegedly accepted ‘rake’ and prostitution.
