Ex-NBA Star Dances Out of Jail After Arrest in Federal Gambling Sting
Gilbert Arenas was all smiles leaving a Los Angeles jail on Wednesday.
In a video posted to social media, the former NBA All-Star could be seen dancing down the steps as he exited a detention facility.
'They can't hold me,' he said to the camera.
The exit came hours after Arenas was arrested on federal charges alleging he played a central role in organizing illegal high-stakes poker games out of his Encino mansion.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California unsealed an indictment charging Arenas with conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators.
He appeared in federal court Wednesday afternoon, pleaded not guilty, and was released pending trial, which is set to begin September 23.
Arenas is accused of renting out his Los Angeles home to host illegal games alongside a group of co-conspirators, including one with ties to the Israeli government.
The indictment alleges the group collected a rake (a percentage or fixed amount from each pot) and went to great lengths to create an enticing casino-style environment — from hiring chefs, valets, security guards, and women who served drinks.
Arenas played 11 seasons in the NBA, most notably with the Washington Wizards. If convicted, he could face up to five years in federal prison for each charge.
'At this point in the case, he is presumed innocent, right?' his attorney Jerome Friedberg said outside the courthouse, per the Associated Press. 'He has the same right as any other citizen to that presumption and that's how he should be treated.'
Ex-NBA Star Dances Out of Jail After Arrest in Federal Gambling Sting first appeared on Parade on Jul 31, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
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