Gilbert Arenas Arrested On Charges Of Illegal Poker Games
Gilbert Arenas was arrested Wednesday in connection with a federal indictment that alleges the former NBA star hosted illegal high stakes poker games at his mansion. Arenas was 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.
Gilbert appeared in court on Wednesday afternoon and was released on a $50,000 bond after pleading not guilty. His trial is scheduled for Sept. 23.
ESPN reports,
According to the indictment, Arenas rented out his Encino house and one of his associates staged the mansion for the poker games, recruited co-conspirators to host and collected rent from the co-conspirators on Arenas’ behalf.
The indictment alleges that Gershman and the other defendants ran illegal Pot Limit Omaha poker games, among others, and collected a cut from each pot contested.
Prosecutors say the group hired chefs, valets and armed security guards to staff the games — as well as young women who served drinks, provided massages and offered companionship to the poker players in exchange for tips — and that the co-conspirators took a cut of the servers’ tips.
