Ton Goldstein, founder of the website SCOTUSBlog, was just indicted for multiple counts of tax evasion. The indictment alleges millions of dollars in non reported poker winnings and alleges that Goldstein used company funds to pay off gambling debts.
According to the indictment, between 2016 and 2023, Thomas C. Goldstein, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., 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 allegedly also a high-stakes poker player, frequently playing in games involving millions of dollars.
During that time, Goldstein allegedly engaged in a scheme to evade his taxes. Goldstein allegedly took various steps to carry out his scheme including diverting legal fees that were due to the law firm to his personal bank account, and then using them to pay personal poker-related debts; using the law firm’s assets to satisfy his personal poker debts and causing those payments to be falsely classified as “legal fee” expenses on the firm’s books and records; and using firm assets to pay salaries and health insurance premiums for people with whom Goldstein had a personal relationship but who performed little or no work for the law firm and did not qualify for its health insurance.
The article goes on to speak about Goldstein concealing liabilities from lenders when he applied for mortgages.
In 2021, Goldstein also allegedly submitted false mortgage applications to two separate mortgage lending companies, seeking financing to purchase a $2.6 million home in Washington, D.C. On those mortgage applications — which required Goldstein to list all his liabilities and debts — Goldstein allegedly omitted millions of dollars of liabilities, including over $14 million he owed at the time on two promissory notes, as well as taxes he owed to the IRS. Goldstein’s false statements to one of the mortgage lenders allegedly resulted in his obtaining a $1.98 million loan.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI are investigating the case.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/maryland ... s-mortgage