United States of America v. Thomas Goldstein

Greenbelt, Maryland, criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendant charged with tax evasion in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7201, aiding and assisting the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206, willful failure to pay taxes in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7203. and making false statements on loan applications in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1014.

Digested by: Kent Morlan

Thomas Goldstein, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, was the sole owner of Goldstein & Russell, P.C., a boutique law firm specializing in appellate litigation, including litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court. Goldstein was also a high-stakes poker player, frequently playing in games involving tens of millions of dollars.

Between 2016 and 2024, Goldstein repeatedly chose not to pay taxes on time, as required by law. He also assisted in the preparation of false tax returns for himself and his law firm, and he engaged in a scheme to evade taxes for 2016. Goldstein carried out the scheme by hiding millions of dollars in poker winning from the government and his accountants, diverting legal fees to his personal bank account to satisfy poker-related debts, directing people to pay his creditors instead of sending payments directly to him, channeling gambling winnings through foreign bank accounts and causing personal payments for poker debts to be falsely classified as “legal-fee” expenses on the firm’s books and records. As a result, Goldstein underreported his income and did not pay much of the taxes that he owed, while spending millions on personal expenses such as poker, travel, and luxury goods.

In 2021, Goldstein submitted false mortgage applications to two separate mortgage lending companies, seeking financing to purchase a $2.6 million dollar home in Washington, D.C. On those mortgage applications – which required Goldstein to list all his liabilities and debts – Goldstein omitted millions of dollars of liabilities, including more than $14 million he owed for poker-related debts, as well as taxes he owed the IRS. Goldstein’s false statements to one of the mortgage lenders enabled him to obtain a $1.98 million loan.

On Feb. 25, a federal jury convicted Goldstein of tax evasion, assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, willful failure to timely pay taxes and making false statements to mortgage lenders.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby for the District of Maryland ordered Goldstein to serve five years of supervised release, pay $3,103, 427 in restitution, and ordered forfeiture but at an indeterminate amount.

IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated the case.

The Defendant was found guilty by a jury and was sentenced to 72 months in prison.