Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas was arrested Wednesday and is accused by the Department of Justice of being a part of a high-stakes illegal gambling ring that ran out of one of his California homes.
Arenas, 43, is facing a federal indictment on a 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. According to the Justice Department, Arenas rented out an Encino, California, mansion to host illegal poker games.
If convicted, Arenas faces up to five years in prison on each charge.
On Thursday, Arenas posted a video on Instagram of him dancing down a flight of stairs saying: “Can’t hold me, baby. They can’t hold me.”
A caption posted along with the video read: “This aint got sh*t to do with me ‘just rented the house’ Wasnt apart of the Festivities.”
According to the Associated Press, Arenas’ attorney Jerome Friedberg said outside the courthouse Wednesday that he hadn’t had much time to speak with his client and couldn’t comment on the case.
“At this point in the case, he is presumed innocent, right?” Friedberg said. “He has the same right as any other citizen to that presumption and that’s how he should be treated.”
Arenas is a former three-time All-Star who played 11 seasons in the NBA, most notably with the Washington Wizards. In more recent years, he’s become a popular podcast host on “Gil’s Arena,” in which he and other former players discuss basketball.
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