A federal jury in Maryland has found prominent appellate attorney and SCOTUSblog co-founder Thomas C. Goldstein guilty of tax evasion and mortgage fraud, wrapping up a lengthy trial focused on accusations that he hid millions in gambling income and debts.
Goldstein, who has argued over 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and established the popular legal website SCOTUSblog, was convicted on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt on charges that include tax evasion, aiding in the preparation of false tax returns, willful failure to pay taxes, and making false statements to mortgage lenders.
Prosecutors claimed that from 2016 to 2023, Goldstein underreported millions in poker winnings and redirected law firm income to settle gambling debts while neglecting to pay the taxes owed. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that he utilized his boutique firm, Goldstein & Russell, P.C., to categorize personal gambling-related expenses as business costs, thereby lowering his reported income.
In 2021, authorities alleged that Goldstein provided false information on mortgage applications to obtain financing for a $2.6 million home in Washington, D.C., failing to disclose millions in liabilities, including over $14 million in promissory notes and unpaid tax debt. One lender approved a $1.98 million loan based on this application.
Goldstein could face a maximum of five years in prison for the tax evasion charge and up to 30 years for each count of mortgage fraud, although the final sentence will be determined by a federal judge following advisory sentencing guidelines. A date for sentencing has yet to be established.
