Gilbert Arenas Possibly Facing 15 Years in Prison for Running Illegal Poker Ring Stuns Fans: “Guess his Podcast is Done”

3-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas has been running a successful media business out of his properties in Los Angeles.

Gilbert Arenas Possibly Facing 15 Years in Prison for Running Illegal Poker Ring Stuns Fans: “Guess his Podcast is Done”

Gilbert Arenas arrested for running illegal poker ring (Image via FirstSportz)

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Since retiring from the NBA, Gilbert Arenas found his next calling when he started his Gil’s Arena show. He and some former NBA stars have made it a show that discusses everything that surrounds the NBA.

The show has been a success, garnering over a million subscribers. That success has forced the team to create spinoffs in the form of live game reactions, host fan events, etc.

All of these point to tremendous success for a player who was once believed to have been robbed of a Hall of Fame-caliber NBA career had injuries not taken a toll on his body.

Arenas was even looking to expand his show to cater to the NFL, and claimed he had been speaking with the recently fired Joy Taylor to become the host of that football-focused podcast.

In the meantime, he was also getting his feet wet at ESPN, with appearances on First Take alongside Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim. All of this pointed to a stellar career in broadcasting.

Earlier today, his life took a change for the worse when NBA Insider Chris Haynes reported that Gilbert Arenas was arrested for running an illegal gambling business where high-stakes poker games were played at the Encino mansion Arenas owned.

Arenas, 43, a.k.a. “Agent Zero,” of Woodland Hills, is charged with 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.

United States Attorney’s Office’s statement

This was an excerpt from the statement the United States Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California released. If the 43-year-old does get indicted, he could face a maximum of 15 years in prison.

Fans lose their minds as Gilbert Arenas gets arrested for illegal poker ring

Basketball fans relaxing at their respective homes did not expect another arrest involving an NBA star to come to light. They were still keeping tabs on Marcus Morris‘ arrest, and could not believe that Gilbert Arenas of all people was alleged to have been running an illegal poker ring

Fans were left dumbfounded as they were aware that the 3-time All-Star was making enough through his shows. Then to be drawn into an illegal operation which could end his broadcasting career seemed senseless.

Fans took to social media to ask questions about why former players with millions in their bank accounts would risk everything for a little bit more. Check out examples of those reactions below.

Gilbert Arenas’ family is already going through a tough period. First, his son Alijah Arenas‘ car crash, then his knee injury, and now this arrest. When they were hoping for an upturn in their lives, this arrest could derail all their plans.

Gilbert Arenas released on $50,000 bond

Gilbert Arenas was among 7 people arrested with various links to this alleged illegal high-stakes poker ring. The host of Gil’s Arena was arraigned at the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

Gilbert Arenas with his son Alijah Arenas
Gilbert Arenas with his son Alijah Arenas (Image via Open Source/X)

He pleaded not guilty to the three charges levied on him and was released after posting a $50,000 bond. As per ABC7, the former Washington Wizards star will have to return to trial, with the first appearance set for September 23rd this year.

Every count he is charged with carries a maximum prison term of 5 years. That means, if the judge finds him guilty, he will face the possibility of spending the next 15 years in a federal prison.

If that were to happen, then it is possible that he will miss most of, if not all of, his son’s and his daughter’s professional basketball careers. However, there are claims that he might not get that long of a sentence even if he is found guilty.

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