LOS ANGELES.- The former player of the NBAGilbert Arenas, was arrested Wednesday with five other people for organizing illegal poker games in his mansion on the outskirts of Los Angeles, US prosecutors reported.
Arenas, 43 years old and former star of the Washington Wizardsrented his luxurious house in Encino “in order to organize illegal high -risk poker games” between September 2021 and July 2022, according to a formal accusation made known in Los Angeles.
The accused also alleges that women who received tips to “serve drinks, massage” to the players participated in the meetings.
Arenas is accused of conspiracy to operate an illegal betting business, operate an illegal betting business and make false statements to federal researchers.
Among those arrested on Wednesday were Yevgeni Gershman, 49, described as an alleged member of Israeli organized crime, among others.
According to the formal accusation, a partner of Arenas, Arthur Kats, prepared the house for poker games, recruited complicit and charged the rent on behalf of the former NBA player.
Gershman and the other defendants organized illegal poker games “Pot Limit Omaha”, in which the players were charged a commission, whether part of each boat or a fee per hand.
Supposedly, the waitresses had to pay part of their tips to the organizers, who also provided chefs, parking lots and armed guards.
Formal accuracy includes supposed text messages between sands and kats in which the games were organized.
The authorities claim that in November 2021 Arenas sent to KATs a text message with the photo of a poker table with the legend “Arenas Poker Club” printed, along with the image of a basketball player with the sand shirt.
What would be the punishment?
If they are convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of five years in a federal prison for each position.
Arenas, three times there of the NBA, played for the last time in the League in 2012 and then did it for the Shanghai Sharks in China in the 2012-2013 season.
In December 2009, he was involved in a remembered incident with his teammate in Washington, Javaris Crittendon, in which both brought weapons to the locker room.
Arenas said that his dispute arose following a card game, he declared himself guilty of possession of weapons, a serious crime, and was suspended for the last 50 games of the 2009-2010 season of the NBA.
