Gilbert Arenas speaks out following release after arrest for illegal gambling ring in his Los Angeles mansion: ‘They can't hold me'
Gilbert Arenas is celebrating his release a day after he was arrested for his connection with an illegal gambling ring in his Los Angeles mansion.
On Wednesday, July 30, the 43-year-old former NBA star was arrested on federal charges of operating an illegal gambling ring alongside five others and accused of hosting high-stakes poker games at his Los Angeles mansion, CNN reported.
In a video uploaded to X shortly after his release, on Thursday, July 31, the former Wizards player dances down the precinct steps, pumping his fists and chanting, 'They can't hold me.'
'Im Back on the Streets,' he wrote in the post. 'This aint got shyt to do with me ' just rented the house' Wasnt apart.'
Arenas, a former NBA All-Star best known for his explosive scoring and time with the Washington Wizards, was arrested on three federal felony counts: conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating that business, and making false statements to federal investigators, per the Department of Justice.
Prosecutors allege that between September 2021 and July 2022, Arenas allowed his mansion to be used for high-stakes poker games and directed an associate to coordinate the logistics, including hiring staff, collecting house cuts on each hand, and ensuring rent was paid.
The arrest came after a lengthy investigation, which began after law enforcement raided the home in July 2022, BBC News reported.
The games allegedly included chefs, valets, armed security, and young women hired to serve drinks, provide massages, and entertain players. According to court documents, even the women's tip earnings were taxed by those running the games.
One co-defendant, Yevgeni Gershman, who has been described as a suspected organized crime figure from Israel, has been linked to a broader scheme involving immigration and marriage fraud. The other defendants include Evgenni Tourevski, 48, Allan Austria, 52, Yarin Cohen, 27, and Ievgen Krachun, 43.
Arenas was released on $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on September 23. If convicted, each charge carries a potential five-year sentence. For now, he maintains his innocence and claims he didn't have a direct hand in the operation.
More must-reads:
Gunman shot by officers after killing 3 people outside a Reno casino has died, police say
Diddy wants out of jail — and his lawyers just filed a new motion claiming he's no criminal, just a 'voyeur'
Texas Republicans propose new US House map with more winnable GOP seats
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
3 minutes ago
- CBS News
Persistent store manager helps police arrest armed robbery suspect in Worcester
A Worcester man has been arrested for armed robbery after allegedly threatening a liquor store clerk with a handgun. A persistent store manager is being credited for leading police to him. "I saw someone that looked a little rough walking and wandering," said Mohamed Abdel-Mawla, manager of a Worcester Price Chopper, who had just given an employee a ride to work when he saw suspicious activity at Boston Liquor store next door. "When he was walking into the liquor store, he had that bag in his right hand, and he pulled a gun and he opened the door with his left hand slowly," said Abdel-Mawla. Worcester police said 36-year-old Liam Chagnon was getting nips and cigarettes when he suddenly threatened the liquor store clerk with a handgun. A store manager who did not want to be identified spoke with WBZ-TV. "It was really bad because it was his first time he had ever saw a gun," the manager said. "He was scared, very scared." The clerk can be heard on surveillance saying, "I got you", and is seen nervously bagging the items while facing the gun. Mohamed Abdel-Mawla called 911 and then followed Chagnon as he made his way down the shopping plaza with a police dispatcher on the line. "He was walking by the stores, kind of walking fast, sweating, shaking a little bit here and there," Abdel-Mawla said. He was worried Chagnon would even go into Price Chopper armed, but the suspect, he says, made his way to Ted's Pizza where he was seen trying to open a locked door. Abdel-Mawla was still watching from a distance as the suspect walked a few minutes to an apartment complex where police arrived and made the arrest thanks to Abdel-Mawla's persistence. "I felt that I had to follow him to make sure that people are safe from this guy," he said. The liquor store manager says Chagnon is a regular customer who sometimes needs help, but this was different. She's grateful to Abdel-Mawla for taking such quick action. "He's very brave. It seems like he's helping everyone out here too, but I hope people will not be afraid," she said. Abdel-Mawla says he hopes he prevented something from happening. Fortunately, no one was injured, and Chagnon has been charged with armed robbery.
CBS News
3 minutes ago
- CBS News
AMBER Alert issued for missing 3-year-old Dior Gooch, taken from Columbia Heights home
Police in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, issued an AMBER Alert Wednesday afternoon for a 3-year-old who they say was taken from a guardian's home. According to the alert, Dior Gooch was taken by 37-year-old Ashley Marie Gooch, who threatened the guardian. Ashley Gooch was last seen around 9 a.m. Wednesday pushing Dior Gooch in a stroller on 37th Avenue and University Avenue in Columbia Heights. The alert says Ashley Gooch was headed west. Anyone with information is asked to call Columbia Heights police at 763-427-1212.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ex-Miami Heat employee accused of stealing jerseys worth millions — including LeBron James'
A former Miami Heat security officer has been accused in federal court of stealing millions of dollars worth of team memorabilia — including a game-worn LeBron James jersey from the 2013 NBA Finals — and selling them to online brokers. Appearing Wednesday at U.S. Superior Court for the Southern District of Florida, retired Miami police officer Marcus Thomas Perez pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce. Perez, 62, faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. His attorney, Robert Buschel, declined to comment when asked on Wednesday by The Times. Read more: Hernández: Lakers' commitment to Luka Doncic raises questions about LeBron James' role According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Miami field office of the FBI, Perez worked on game-day security detail for the Heat from 2016-2021, and later worked as an NBA security employee from 2022-2025. While employed by the Heat, the press release states, Perez "was among a limited number of trusted individuals with access to a secured equipment room" where "hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia" were being stored to be displayed at a future Heat museum. "During his employment, Perez accessed the equipment room multiple times to steal over 400 game-worn jerseys and other items, which he then sold to various online marketplaces," the press release states. "Over a three-year period, Perez sold over 100 stolen items for approximately $2 million and shipped them across state lines, often for prices well below their market value." Read more: LeBron James and Maverick Carter meet with Nikola Jokic's agent, who is starting a new league One example listed in the press release is the jersey that James wore in Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals, during which the Heat defeated the San Antonio Spurs 95-88 to win their second straight championship. Perez allegedly sold the jersey for around $100,000; it was sold in an online auction for $3.7 million in 2023. In executing a search warrant at Perez's home April 3, law enforcement "seized nearly 300 additional stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia," all of which the Heat confirmed had been stolen from their facility, according to the press release. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
