In a federal indictment, former NBA player Gilbert Arenas and five other people were detained on Wednesday on charges that they “operated an illegal gambling business in which high-stakes poker games were played at an Encino mansion Arenas owned,” according to ABC investigator Mike Levine.
A “suspected high-level member of an Israeli transnational organized crime group” is among the other five members, Levine continued.
Some sports-related DOJ news @CBSNews: Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas and 5 others have been arrested today on charges of operating an illegal gambling/poker ring. Release from @TheJusticeDept / @billessayli: pic.twitter.com/qwegoWEJMM
— jake rosen (@JakeMRosen) July 30, 2025
In addition to being charged with “conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business,” Arenas is also charged with actually running that illegal gambling business and lying to federal investigators. On Wednesday afternoon, Arenas will be arraigned in Los Angeles.
Gilbert Arenas faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each of the three charges against him: 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. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 15 years in prison. However, he has not been convicted, and sentencing would depend on the court’s discretion and any plea agreements.
Arenas and the other five were arrested, according to a formal statement from the Department of Justice.
