Earlier this year, SCOTUSblog co-founder and veteran Supreme Court litigator Tom Goldstein was arrested on a 22-count indictment alleging tax crimes and making false statements to lenders. According to the government, Goldstein participated in high-stakes poker games and failed to disclose his winnings (in tax filings) and losings (in loan applications).
Over the course of several years, the indictment says that Goldstein racked up big winnings and bigger losses in high-stakes underground poker matches, both domestically and abroad. By the time of the alleged loan fraud, the indictment says Goldstein was millions in debt. And while he didn’t report all his gambling income, a good deal of the tax problems revolve around using the firm, Goldstein & Russell, to move money from firm accounts to pay personal gambling debts. Plus some extra personal and financial shenanigans, wherein Goldstein allegedly paid mistresses as employees to do nonexistent work.
Now, according to an order entered earlier this week, District Court of Maryland Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby rejected Goldstein’s arguments that the tax evasion, willful failure to pay taxes, and two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a fraudulent tax return charges he faces are time barred.
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As reported by Bloomberg Law:
But the government obtained several tolling orders because Goldstein spent “hundreds of days travelling” outside the country, Griggsby said. The question of whether the statute of limitations was actually tolled due to Goldstein’s time abroad is for a jury to decide, the judge added.
Goldstein also suffered another legal loss when the judge ruled statements he made to US Customs and Border Protection officers were admissible. In 2018, Goldstein told Customs the $968,000 in cash he carried was gambling winnings. He later told the IRS that cash constituted loans.
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Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].