Embattled Washington Wizards star guard Gilbert Arenas is facing felony gun possession charges for bringing handguns last month to his place of business, the Verizon Center locker room.

The charge brought Thursday by the U.S. Attorney's office for the District of Columbia carries a five-year jail term and fine.

Arenas' attorneys had been seeking to have the gun charges reduced to a misdemeanor in a plea deal but were unsuccessful. Arenas, a Los Angeles native, had plead guilty to a similar gun charge in California in 2004.

Arenas, a former all-star and Wizard fan favorite, suffered a huge fall from grace, watching the team strip his image from all areas of the Verizon Center (his jersey is no longer on sale during home games) and threatening his $111 million contract that the team may seek to have voided.

His ordeal began after he and teammate Javaris Crittenton got into a heated argument after a card game and Crittenton allegedly said he should shoot Arenas in the knee. Days later on Dec. 21, Arenas placed guns on a chair next to Crittenton's locker with a note that said to "Pick One," according to authorities.

Days after issuing an apology for bringing guns to the locker room, Arenas was photographed joking with the teammate with his hands mimicking pistols before a game.

NBA Commissioner David Stern suspended Arenas indefinitely without pay Jan. 6, saying Arenas was not "fit to take the court in an NBA game."