Published on: January 13, 2026, 03:11h.
Updated on: January 13, 2026, 03:11h.
- Goldstein faces allegations of concealing poker earnings and avoiding $5.3M in taxes.
- The indictment claims misuse of law firm funds and false statements on mortgage applications.
- His defense argues any discrepancies were unintentional, attributing blame to bookkeeping errors and late payments.
This week, the trial of Tom Goldstein, a prominent attorney from Washington accused of deliberately evading substantial taxes on his poker winnings, commenced in Maryland.
Goldstein was well-regarded in the field of US Supreme Court litigation, all the while engaging in high-stakes poker games.
From 2016 to 2021, he reportedly failed to remit over $5.3 million in taxes, as outlined in a 22-count indictment made public in January 2025. He is also accused of misappropriating funds from his law firm, Goldstein & Russell in Bethesda, Maryland, to cover poker debts and providing false information on mortgage applications. Goldstein has denied all allegations.
‘Late Filers Abound’
The indictment has since been modified after a judge dismissed charges concerning alleged payments to women with whom he had relationships. Goldstein claimed in a recent interview with The New York Times that these additional claims had “no relevance to the tax matters… They introduced those charges to tarnish my reputation and make the jury view me unfavorably.”
Now 55, Goldstein has declined any plea deals and plans to assert that there was no willful misconduct in his actions, attributing any discrepancies to accidental bookkeeping errors rather than criminal intent.
“Countless individuals file their taxes late, just as I did,” he stated to the Times.
As a poker player, Goldstein operated as an “ultra-high-stakes” participant, often engaging in matches or series in both the United States and abroad with bets totaling millions, sometimes even tens of millions of dollars, as per the indictment.
High-Stakes Poker Journey
In 2016, he amassed $26.4 million during a series of heads-up matches with a private investor in Beverly Hills. While the indictment refrained from naming his opponent, Goldstein later identified him as Alec Gores, the billionaire founder of the Gores Group.
That same year in the Philippines, he won $13.8 million against a gambler known as “Tango” and later $9.96 million against someone named “The Chairman.” Ultimately, he earned roughly $50 million in total poker winnings but had sold off 75% of his action.
When he had the chance to compete against US real estate investor and private equity executive Bob Safai, he opted to wager solely with his own capital, resulting in a $14 million loss.
At the point of his indictment, he was engaged in poker matches with a Southern businessman whose identity Goldstein has opted to withhold. He claims to have been winning millions during these games.
Jury selection for the trial commenced on Monday, with opening statements anticipated shortly after a jury is formed.