Prominent Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion and Mortgage Fraud

Greenbelt, Maryland - A federal judge sentenced a prominent appellate attorney, who argued more than 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and co-founded the widely read legal website SCOTUSblog, today, in connection with a tax-evasion and mortgage-fraud scheme.

U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Thomas C. Goldstein, 56, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, to six years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for tax evasion; assisting with preparing false tax returns; willfully failing to timely pay taxes; and making false statements to mortgage lenders. Additionally, Judge Griggsby ordered Goldstein to pay $3,103,427 in restitution, and an indeterminate forfeiture amount. The Court also revoked Goldstein's bond and remanded him into custody. A federal jury convicted Goldstein of the charges in February 2026.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald, DOJ National Fraud Enforcement Division; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Tyler, FBI Washington Field Office - Criminal Division.

"Thomas Goldstein built a distinguished legal career arguing that the rule of law matters. Yet, as the evidence at trial showed, he repeatedly chose to violate that very principle for his own financial benefit," Hayes said. "Every taxpayer is expected to play by the same rules, and this sentence shows that those who deliberately cheat the system and lie for financial gain will be held accountable. We thank our law enforcement partners for their work on this case, and their unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of our tax and financial systems."

"This sentence holds Thomas Goldstein accountable for cheating the tax system and lying to mortgage lenders," McDonald said. "Mr. Goldstein concealed millions of dollars in income, disguised income with foreign bank accounts, and manipulated his law firm's books- all to fund his gambling and lifestyle. He then repeatedly chose not to pay taxes the taxes owed. There is no tax case too big, no scheme too complex, and no hiding place too remote for the Fraud Division."

"Today's sentencing is a significant step towards holding the defendant accountable for his role in abusing our tax system," Carter said. "IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents and our law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue those who attempt to defraud our tax system and financial institutions."

"Public prominence doesn't entitle anyone to break financial rules or secure an unfair advantage over those who follow them," Tyler said. "The mortgage industry exists to serve hardworking, honest Americans, and the FBI will bring anyone who tries to exploit the system for personal gain to justice regardless of their social status."

According to evidence presented at trial, between 2016 and 2023, Goldstein served as sole owner of Goldstein & Russell, P.C., a boutique law firm specializing in appellate litigation, including litigation before the United States Supreme Court. Goldstein was also a high-stakes poker player, frequently playing in games involving tens of millions of dollars.

During that timeframe, Goldstein stopped paying taxes on time, as required by law, and engaged in a scheme to evade paying his taxes for 2016. Goldstein took various steps to carry out the scheme, including concealing millions of dollars in poker wins and losses from the government. He also diverted legal fees, payable to his law firm, to his personal bank account to satisfy poker-related debts; directed people to pay his creditors instead of sending payments directly to him; and used the law firm's assets to satisfy his poker debts. Then he caused those payments to be falsely classified as "legal-fee" expenses on the firm's books and records. As a result, Goldstein underreported his income and did not pay all the taxes that he owed. Instead of paying his taxes, he spent millions on personal expenses such as poker, travel, and luxury goods.

In 2021, Goldstein 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 - he omitted millions of dollars of liabilities, including more than $14 million he owed at the time on two promissory notes, as well as taxes he owed the IRS. His false statements to one of the mortgage lenders enabled him to obtain a $1.98-million loan.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the IRS-CI and FBI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adeyemi Adenrele, along with Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorneys Emerson Gordon-Marvin and Hayter L. Whitman, DOJ Criminal Division Tax Section, who are prosecuting this federal case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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