Tom Goldstein, the renowned Supreme Court lawyer, SCOTUSblog co-founder, and friend of Dan Bilzerian has come out firing in his tax evasion case.
Goldstein’s legal battle against a 22-count federal indictment for tax evasion has escalated into a showdown that has seen the defendant accuse the U.S. Government of shady behaviour in court.
This latest twist has seen Goldstein’s defense accusing federal prosecutors of misconduct, alleging they’ve “intentionally misled the court” in a case already brimming with intrigue.
It’s had it all so far — $51 million in poker winnings, unreported cryptocurrency dealings, and a duffel bag stuffed with nearly $1 million in cash.
Dirty Tricks
This week’s bombshell saw Goldstein’s legal team fire a salvo at the Department of Justice (DOJ), claiming prosecutors have distorted facts to bolster their case.
It’s been a tumultuous two months since Goldstein’s January 2025 indictment in Maryland federal court, where he’s charged with tax evasion, filing false returns, and making fraudulent statements on mortgage applications.
The stakes are higher than any poker game Goldstein has ever sat in. If convicted, he faces decades in prison. But Goldstein, a veteran of 44 Supreme Court arguments, isn’t folding, instead he’s doubling down in a bid to turn the tables.
On March 19, Bloomberg Law detailed how Goldstein’s attorneys argued that prosecutors misrepresented evidence to extend the statute of limitations. This was a move to keep older allegations dating back to 2016 in play.
The defense claims this isn’t an isolated slip but part of a “broader pattern” of deception. They’re now seeking sanctions against the DOJ in a bold escalation that might just be the first major move of the fight.
Goldstein’s poker career is a tale fit for Hollywood. Between 2022 and 2024, he reportedly won $51 million from a single opponent across multiple matches, part of a career that saw him rake in tens of millions in ultra high-stakes games from Beverly Hills to Macau.
Yet the indictment alleges he dodged taxes on millions, diverted law firm funds to cover gambling debts, and concealed assets just like that infamous 2018 return from Macau with $968,000 in cash stuffed in a duffel bag.
The feds also accuse him of hiding over $10 million in crypto trades in 2020 and 2021, a subplot that’s fueled recent courtroom drama.
That crypto angle exploded in February when prosecutors claimed Goldstein moved $8 million through undisclosed wallets post-indictment, landing him in jail as a flight risk.
He was released days later after proving the wallet wasn’t his, but the episode left lingering distrust. We can now safely assume that the level of animosity between the two sides has reached a new high.
On March 17, BlockTribune reported that the DOJ now wants to monitor Goldstein’s devices as a condition reflecting their ongoing suspicion he’s still shuffling assets.
Goldstein’s defense isn’t just denying the charges, but rather it’s painting him as a target of prosecutorial zeal. Easy to say that any defendant would raise this point as a defense but this is the avenue Goldstein’s team is going down.
Goldstein’s lawyers, John Lauro and Christopher Kise, are both tied to President Trump’s legal team, and insist he’s a “prominent attorney with an impeccable reputation” who’ll be exonerated.
They argue the government rushed to judgment, ignoring key facts. The misconduct claims could shift focus from Goldstein’s high-rolling lifestyle to the DOJ’s tactics, especially if evidence backs their accusations.
From what was a mildly interesting case beyond Goldstein’s poker exploits, we now have a story that could come right out of Hollywood.
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