January 23, 2025 3 min read

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High-Stakes Poker Player and Attorney Accused of Tax Crimes

The Maryland man who is facing a range of charges is accused of tax evasion, and failure to pay taxes, among other things

A recognizable lawyer from Maryland, who participated in cases that have come before the US Supreme Court is facing charges over tax crimes and making false statements to mortgage lenders.

A 22-Count Indictment

This is the case of Thomas Goldstein, an attorney from Chevy Chase, Maryland and Washington DC, who also happens to be a high-stakes poker player. The man, who is also the sole owner of Goldstein & Russell P.C., is accused of tax evasion, preparing false tax returns and failure to pay taxes, among other charges.

The announcement about the 22-count indictment came earlier this month from Deputy Assistant Attorney General, David A. Hubbert, with the Justice Department’s Tax Division and US Attorney Erek Barron for the District of Maryland. The charges follow an extensive investigation by the FBI and the IRS.

Accusations against Goldstein claim that he made false statements to two separate mortgage lenders, failed to pay taxes and engaged in tax evasion by assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Allegedly, the attorney engaged in unlawful actions between 2016 and 2023. Prosecutors allege that Goldstein failed to pay millions of dollars in due taxes and at the same time omitted millions of dollars of liabilities in order to obtain a loan of nearly $2 million.

Allegations Claim Tax Evasion, Misusing Company Assets

If the attorney is convicted of the charges he is facing, he may receive a lengthy prison sentence. This is because each count of making false statements to mortgage lenders carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, while each tax evasion charge is punished by a maximum of five years in prison.

Other charges Goldstein is facing include assisting in the preparation of false tax returns which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count. On the other hand, each count of willful failure to pay taxes carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison. Besides prison time, Goldstein may be facing a period of supervised release, restitution and fines. That is the case given that he is convicted of the charges he is facing.

While Goldstein was a high-stakes poker player who frequently played games for millions of dollars, he allegedly “engaged in a scheme to evade his taxes.” Prosecutors claim he “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.”

Goldstein is also accused of misusing assets belonging to his law firm to settle debts related to poker. This falsely classified the expenses as “legal fees,” something that is seen as a criminal offense. Further allegations claim Goldstein hired several people with whom he had “personal relationship but who performed little or no work for the law firm.”

Journalist

Jerome brings a wealth of journalistic experience within the iGaming sector. His interest in the industry began after graduating from college, where he regularly participated in local poker tournaments. This exposure led him to the growing popularity of online poker and casino rooms. Jerome now channels all the knowledge he's accrued to fuel his passion for journalism, providing our team with the latest scoops online.

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