Prominent Washington Lawyer Tom Goldstein Convicted in Tax Trial

Jury finds Goldstein guilty of tax evasion and financial crimes related to his high-stakes poker winnings

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A U.S. jury has convicted prominent Washington lawyer Thomas Goldstein of tax and financial crimes tied to his side career as a high-stakes poker player. Goldstein, who was one of the top U.S. appellate attorneys and often argued cases at the Supreme Court, was found guilty of 12 out of 16 counts he faced, including failing to report millions in poker winnings and making false statements on mortgage loan documents.

Why it matters

Goldstein's conviction is a stunning fall for a lawyer who was once considered a star of the elite Supreme Court bar. The case highlights the risks that high-profile professionals can face when they engage in unethical financial practices, even if they are not directly related to their primary careers.

The details

Prosecutors accused Goldstein of failing to report more than $26 million in poker winnings, lying on mortgage loan documents, and making improper payments through his former law firm Goldstein & Russell. The jury found Goldstein guilty of 12 of the 16 counts he faced, including tax evasion and financial crimes. Goldstein argued that any errors were due to an overreliance on his advisers and accountants, but prosecutors portrayed him as a meticulous lawyer who was well aware of his duty to disclose his gambling winnings and losses.

  • On February 25, 2026, a U.S. jury convicted Thomas Goldstein of tax and financial crimes.
  • Goldstein was indicted last year by federal prosecutors.

The players

Thomas Goldstein

A prominent Washington lawyer who was one of the top U.S. appellate attorneys and often argued cases at the Supreme Court before retiring in 2023.

Sean Beaty

A lead prosecutor who questioned Goldstein on the witness stand and portrayed him as a liar who deceived his wife and others about the scope of his poker activities.

Tobey Maguire

An actor who testified that he hired Goldstein in 2020 to try to recover more than $7 million that a Texas businessman allegedly owed the actor in a poker debt.

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What they’re saying

“The mistakes, responsibility for those tax years is mine. I may end up continuing to pay for this for a long time. That's my responsibility. It's just very different from whether I committed a crime.”

— Thomas Goldstein

“Poker. Travel. Cars. Watches. All while you owed millions of dollars to the IRS.”

— Sean Beaty, Lead Prosecutor

What’s next

Goldstein is due to be sentenced at a later date.

The takeaway

Goldstein's conviction serves as a cautionary tale for high-profile professionals who may be tempted to engage in unethical financial practices, even if they are not directly related to their primary careers. The case highlights the importance of maintaining strict financial and ethical standards, even in one's personal affairs.