Advertisement

TMZ: Charles Oakley arrested in Las Vegas casino after charges of cheating

Zach Pereles

Former New York Knicks great Charles Oakley was arrested at a Las Vegas casino on July 8 for trying to cheat during a game, casino officials told TMZ Sports.

Oakley was arrested at Cosmopolitan

Oakley, 54, was arrested at Cosmopolitan, a hotel and casino on The Strip, on Sunday after trying to pull a $100 chip during a gambling session. It is unclear what game Oakley was playing, but Oakley “was suspected of adding to or reducing his wager on a gambling game after the outcome was known,” officials from the Nevada Gaming Board said. Security tapes confirmed his intent to cheat.

Oakley, whose career earnings are upward of $46 million per Basketball Reference, was confronted about the incident at the casino. He was then booked at Clark County Detention Center at about 5:30 p.m. local time.

Oakley could face one to six years in prison

Oakley’s actions in Vegas — “to commit or attempt to commit a fraudulent act in a gaming establishment” — are not to be taken lightly. If convicted, Oakley could face between one and six years in prison, TMZ reports.

Oakley’s camp does not think this will be a major issue going forward. “This is an insignificant matter that will be quickly resolved,” a source close to Oakley told TMZ.

Oakley was arrested at a Knicks game last year

This isn’t the first time Oakley has found himself in legal trouble. On February 8, 2017, Oakley was arrested at Madison Square Garden after trying to go after Knicks owner James Dolan. Oakley got in a fight with a security guard, causing a pause in the game, before being dragged away.

Oakley was arrested on three counts of assault for his fight with the security guards and another for criminal trespassing. Criminal charges were dismissed in February of this year, but Dolan has banned Oakley from Madison Square Garden for life.

More from Yahoo Sports:
• Bucks rookie is down to his last $3.71 as he awaits NBA paycheck
• Ex-UCLA star found dead after posting cryptic YouTube message
• How one LeBron tweet led to a sad day in the sun for LA fans
• Rescued Thai soccer players forced to decline World Cup invite

Charles Oakley is in legal trouble for the second time in the last year-and-a-half. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Charles Oakley is in legal trouble for the second time in the last year-and-a-half. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)