Former Washington Wizards star guard Gilbert Arenas is currently in legal hot water. On Wednesday, he was arrested along with five other defendants on a federal indictment that alleges they operated an illegal gambling ring.
According to a press release issued by the United States Attorney’s Office for California’s Central District, Arenas allegedly helped run a gambling business in which high-stakes poker games took place at a mansion he owned in a neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Arenas 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.
The three-time NBA All-Star is slated to be arraigned in United States District Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon in what will mark his initial appearance.
Arenas and the other defendants allegedly operated an illegal gambling business from September of 2021 to July of 2022, according to an indictment that was returned on July 15 and unsealed on Wednesday. Arenas allegedly rented out the aforementioned mansion to host high-stakes, illegal poker games.
If found guilty of the charges against him, Arenas’ future working as a media figure covering the NBA could be very much up in the air. The press released seemed to indicate that he could face years in prison if convicted.
Arenas played 11 seasons in the NBA with the Wizards, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies, and he averaged 20.7 points per game for his career.
He was easily at his best at the NBA level with the Wizards, as there was a three-season span where he earned three All-Star nods, three All-NBA selections and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting once. Arenas earned the eighth-most votes for the coveted award in the 2006-07 campaign.
He last played in the league when he suited up in 17 games with the Grizzlies organization all the way back in the 2011-12 season and has made waves as a media figure in recent years. Now, his legal situation will have to become a top focus for him.
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