Thomas Goldstein, a former Supreme Court litigator and co-founder of SCOTUSblog, has been sentenced to six years in prison for tax evasion and mortgage fraud. A judge ordered him to pay over $3.1 million in restitution.
Goldstein, 56, was convicted by a jury in February on 12 of 16 counts, including eight felonies. The charges stemmed from his evasion of a multi-million dollar IRS tax debt and involvement in mortgage fraud, while secretly leading a life as a high-stakes poker player. Prosecutors stated that Goldstein concealed more than $25 million in income between 2016 and 2023, defrauding the government of over $9.5 million in unpaid taxes.
The case drew attention due to Goldstein's prominent legal career, during which he argued over 40 cases before the Supreme Court before retiring in 2023. He was also a member of the Democratic legal team involved in the Supreme Court litigation surrounding the 2000 presidential election. The indictment in January 2025 sent shockwaves through Washington D.C.'s legal community, as many friends and colleagues were unaware of the extent of his gambling activities.
During a six-week trial, testimony included that of actor Tobey Maguire, who enlisted Goldstein's assistance in recovering a gambling debt. Prosecutors characterized Goldstein's actions as driven by "pure, unrelenting greed," citing his alleged use of offshore bank accounts for gambling income, underreporting of law firm income, and deception of lenders.
Goldstein's defense attorneys argued for a sentence that would allow him to repay debts and address a gambling addiction, asserting that his conduct was self-destructive but not illegal. They stated he gambled away money he did not possess, to his own detriment and that of his loved ones. Goldstein himself testified, maintaining he instructed his staff and accountants to handle personal expenses and income correctly.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Goldstein diverted funds from his law firm to cover gambling debts and falsely deducted these debts as business expenses. He was also accused of misleading IRS agents and concealing significant gambling debts, including a $15 million omission from mortgage loan applications when seeking a new home in 2021. The prosecution sought a prison sentence of over eight years, emphasizing the expectation of higher ethical standards for individuals of Goldstein's legal standing. Goldstein was also sentenced to five years of supervised release following his prison term.