Supreme Court Litigator Convicted of Tax Evasion Over Poker Winnings

Thomas Goldstein, co-founder of SCOTUSblog, found guilty of tax fraud and false statements related to his high-stakes gambling activities.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Thomas Goldstein, a prominent Supreme Court litigator and co-founder of the popular SCOTUSblog, was convicted of 12 out of 16 counts of tax evasion, aiding in the preparation of false tax returns, failure to pay taxes, and making false statements on loan applications. The charges stemmed from Goldstein's failure to report millions of dollars in gambling winnings, including $22 million he won playing poker in Asia in 2016.

Why it matters

Goldstein's conviction sends shockwaves through the legal community in Washington, D.C., as many of his colleagues were unaware of the extent of his high-stakes gambling activities. The case highlights the risks of leading a secret double life and the importance of properly reporting all income, even from gambling, to the IRS.

The details

Prosecutors accused Goldstein of diverting money from his law firm to pay gambling debts and falsely deducting gambling losses as business expenses. They said Goldstein raked in approximately $50 million in poker winnings in 2016, including $22 million from games in Asia. The tax evasion scheme unraveled when another gambler, feeling cheated by Goldstein, notified the IRS about a 2016 debt owed to the attorney.

  • Goldstein was indicted in 2025.
  • The six-week trial began on January 12, 2026.
  • The jury deliberated for approximately two days before convicting Goldstein on February 26, 2026.

The players

Thomas Goldstein

A prominent Supreme Court litigator who co-founded the popular SCOTUSblog and was convicted of tax evasion and related charges stemming from his high-stakes poker gambling activities.

Sean Beaty

A Justice Department prosecutor who described Goldstein as a "willful tax cheat" during the trial's closing arguments.

Jonathan Kravis

Goldstein's defense attorney, who argued that the government rushed to judgment and that Goldstein made "innocent mistakes" on his tax returns but did not cheat on his taxes or knowingly make false statements.

Tobey Maguire

The "Spider-Man" star, who testified during the trial as an avid poker player who enlisted Goldstein's help in recovering a gambling debt from a billionaire.

Al Gore

The former Democratic presidential candidate whom Goldstein represented in the Supreme Court litigation over the 2000 election.

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What they’re saying

“He lied to everyone around him.”

— Sean Beaty, Justice Department prosecutor (NBC News)

“A mistake is not a crime.”

— Jonathan Kravis, Goldstein's defense attorney (NBC News)

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

— Sean Beaty, Justice Department prosecutor (NBC News)

What’s next

Goldstein is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, 2026. He faces a maximum of 5 years in prison for the tax evasion charge and up to 3 years for each of the other charges.

The takeaway

Goldstein's conviction highlights the risks of leading a secret double life and the importance of properly reporting all income, even from gambling, to the IRS. The case serves as a cautionary tale for legal professionals and others who may be tempted to engage in tax evasion schemes to hide their high-stakes gambling activities.