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Former Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas has poked fun at his arrest for allegedly running an illegal gambling operation after sharing a video on social media.
The case against him was announced by the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California on Wednesday afternoon.
However, during a court appearance, Arenas pleaded not guilty and was released pending trial after paying a $50,000 (£38,000) bond.
The former Wizards star then swiftly took to social media to address fans and followers for the first time, as he triumphantly claimed: ‘They can’t hold me’.
A video posted by Arenas showed him leaving the police department and joyfully walking down a set of stairs, while a woman behind the camera shouted: ‘Free!’
The caption to the post, on Arenas’ Instagram, read: ‘Im Back on the Block like its HOT. This aint got s*** to do with me ‘just rented the house’
Gilbert Arenas has poked fun at his arrest for allegedly running an illegal gambling operation
Former Wizards star Arenas pleaded not guilty and was released pending trial on Wednesday
‘Wasnt apart of the Festivities. #SnitchingGilComingSOON’.
Named alongside Arenas – known in his playing days as ‘Agent Zero’ – are five co-conspirators who have been charged with operating and illegal gambling business.
The other five people charged are as follows: Israeli suspected organized crime figure Yevgeni Gershman, 49, Evgenni Tourevski, 48, Allan Austria, 52, Yarin Cohen, 27, and Ievgen Krachun, 43. Along with Arenas, those five were detained without incident by LAPD, Homeland Security, and the IRS.
If convicted, the defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.
Arenas was arraigned on Wednesday afternoon after appearing in a Los Angeles court for the first time. Trial is scheduled for September 23.
An unsealed indictment reveals that from September 2021 to July 2022, Arenas rented out a mansion that he owned in Encino – north of Hollywood – ‘for the purpose of hosting high-stakes illegal poker games’, according to officials.
The US Attorney’s Office says a man named Arthur Kats staged the mansion to host the games ‘at Arenas’ direction’ and also ‘found co-conspirators to host the games, and collected rent from the co-conspirators on Arenas’ behalf.’
Officials say that the operation even included a poker felt labeled ‘ARENAS POKER CLUB’ – featuring an image of Arenas in his basketball uniform and his No. 0.
Arenas is accused of renting out this Encino mansion that he owned to house the operation
While a member of the Wizards, Arenas was investigated for bringing a firearm into the team’s locker room. He was sentenced to two-years probation and 30 days in a halfway house. The NBA suspended him for 50 games in the 2009-10 season.
‘Gershman, Tourevski, Austria, and Cohen managed illegal “Pot Limit Omaha” poker games, among other illegal games, at the Encino mansion, collected a “rake” – a fee the house charged from each pot either as a percentage or a fixed amount per hand – and invited players to compete,’ officials say.
Krachun, meanwhile, worked as a “chip runner” – tracking the wins and losses of the players involved, distributing poker chips, and paying employees.
Gershman has been accused of hiring young women to serve drinks, provide massages, and offer companionship to the players in exchange for tips. These women were also charged a ‘tax’ – a percentage of their earnings from working the games. Additionally, chefs, valets, and armed security guards were hired.
Beyond the games, Gershman has also been charged with three additional counts: conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, and making a false statement on an immigration document.
Gershman faces these charges alongside 35-year-old Valentina Cojocari – who he is alleged to have conspired to enter into a sham marriage with for the purpose of obtaining permanent legal status in the US.
Arenas is the former owner of a five-bedroom, five-bathroom mansion in Encino located at 4550 Gable Drive that he sold in December of 2022, after the gambling business is believed to have ended. Authorities say this is where the operation was run.
He sold the mansion for $3.1million. The property features lavish views and outdoor spaces (including a pool and a hot tub), a massive kitchen, and a three-car garage among other amenities. Arenas previously tried selling the property for as much as $3.8m.
This is not the first time that Arenas has run afoul of the law.
Last summer, Arenas was slammed for a ‘xenophobic’ rant about Team USA and South Sudan
Arenas said Embiid (No. 11) threw the game to his ‘cousins’ among other distasteful comments
Most notably, Arenas was suspended for a total of 50 games in the 2009-10 season for bringing a firearm into the Wizards locker room and drawing it on teammate Javaris Crittenton in an argument about gambling debts.
Police investigated the incident and charged Arenas with carrying a pistol without a license. He was sentenced to two-years probation and 30 days in a halfway house.
In June of 2013, the LAPD arrested Arenas for possession of illegal fireworks.
Off the court, Arenas has made a number of controversial racial statements about European players entering the NBA and about international stars from Africa .
In the aftermath of Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green punching then-Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in December of 2023, Arenas appeared to praise him.
Then last summer, prior to the Paris Olympics, Arenas belittled the national team of South Sudan – who nearly pulled off a major upset of the United States.
‘We almost lost to the Ahi Ahi tribe. This is crazy, [Joel] Embiid over there, throwing the game for his cousins and s***,’ Arenas said after the loss. He also mimicked a blow dart and took a shot at the quality of life in South Sudan saying they ‘get their shoes from America’ and that they ‘don’t even have basketball rims… they shootin’ on peach baskets in dirt.’
Arenas went on to apologize for his comments, but did so in a backhanded way when former NBA star Luol Deng called him out.
