Renowned Supreme Court Litigator Convicted of Tax Evasion

Goldstein hid millions in poker winnings from the IRS, prosecutors say

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A former high-profile Supreme Court litigator has been convicted of tax evasion after prosecutors accused him of hiding millions in poker winnings from the IRS. The Justice Department said the attorney, Paul Goldstein, raked in around $50 million in poker earnings in 2016, including $22 million from games in Asia, but failed to report the income on his tax returns.

Why it matters

Goldstein's conviction sends shockwaves through the legal community in Washington, D.C., as he was a respected Supreme Court advocate who argued more than 40 cases before the nation's highest court. The case also highlights the challenges tax authorities face in cracking down on unreported income from high-stakes gambling.

The details

Prosecutors accused Goldstein of executing a "textbook tax-evasion scheme," alleging he lied to IRS agents, hid gambling debts from his accountants and mortgage lenders, and omitted a $15 million gambling debt from loan applications. Goldstein's defense attorney argued the government rushed to judgment and that his client made "innocent mistakes" on his tax returns.

  • Goldstein was indicted on tax evasion charges in 2025.
  • The trial began on January 12, 2026.
  • Goldstein was convicted on February 25, 2026.

The players

Paul Goldstein

A former high-profile Supreme Court litigator who argued more than 40 cases before the nation's highest court before retiring in 2023.

Sean Beaty

A Justice Department prosecutor who argued that Goldstein was a "willful tax cheat" who raked in millions in poker winnings that he failed to report.

Jonathan Kravis

Goldstein's defense attorney, who argued the government rushed to judgment and that his client made "innocent mistakes" on his tax returns.

Tobey Maguire

An avid poker player who testified during the trial and enlisted Goldstein's help in recovering a gambling debt from a billionaire.

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What they’re saying

“He lied to everyone around him.”

— Sean Beaty, Justice Department prosecutor (Politico)

“A mistake is not a crime.”

— Jonathan Kravis, Goldstein's defense attorney (Politico)

“It was a textbook tax-evasion scheme. And Mr. Goldstein executed that nearly flawlessly.”

— Sean Beaty, Justice Department prosecutor (Politico)

What’s next

Goldstein is expected to be sentenced in the coming weeks. He faces up to five years in prison for each of the tax evasion charges.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges tax authorities face in cracking down on unreported income from high-stakes gambling, even among respected legal professionals. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of tax evasion, even for those at the highest levels of the legal field.