SCOTUS Blog Co-Founder Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Tax Evasion and Mortgage Fraud

A distinguished appellate attorney, known for his extensive work before the U.S. Supreme Court and for co-founding the legal website SCOTUSblog, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for a scheme involving tax evasion and mortgage fraud. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, Thomas C. Goldstein, 56, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, was also ordered to pay over $3.1 million in restitution and an indeterminate forfeiture amount. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby, follows a federal jury conviction in February 2026 on charges of tax evasion, assisting with the preparation of false tax returns, willfully failing to pay taxes, and making false statements to mortgage lenders. Goldstein’s bond was revoked, and he was taken into custody.

The evidence presented during the trial indicated that between 2016 and 2023, Goldstein, as the sole owner of the law firm Goldstein & Russell, P.C., which specialized in appellate litigation, engaged in a deliberate plan to evade taxes. This scheme involved concealing significant poker winnings and losses from the government, diverting legal fees from his firm to his personal accounts to cover gambling debts, and directing payments to his creditors instead of remitting them directly to him. Furthermore, he used the firm’s assets to settle his poker-related debts, subsequently misclassifying these transactions as “legal-fee” expenses in the firm’s financial records. This fraudulent accounting led to Goldstein underreporting his income, resulting in unpaid taxes, which he then allegedly used for personal expenditures including gambling, travel, and luxury purchases.

Adding to his financial deceptions, Goldstein submitted fraudulent mortgage applications in 2021 to two separate lending companies as he sought financing for a 2.6 million home in Washington, D.C. These applications, which required disclosure of all liabilities and debts, notably omitted millions of dollars in outstanding obligations. Among the undisclosed debts were over 14 million owed on two promissory notes and significant tax liabilities to the IRS. These material omissions and false statements allowed him to secure a $1.98 million loan from one of the lenders. The conviction and subsequent sentencing underscore the government’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for tax fraud and financial deception, regardless of their professional standing.

The investigation and prosecution of this case were a collaborative effort involving multiple federal agencies. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, alongside the DOJ National Fraud Enforcement Division, the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C. Field Office, and the FBI Washington Field Office—Criminal Division, worked together to bring Goldstein to justice. This case highlights the Department of Justice’s focus on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American public. The creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division further signals the department’s intent to combat fraud, waste, and abuse within federal programs.

The sentence imposed on Thomas Goldstein serves as a clear message that deliberate attempts to circumvent tax laws and mislead financial institutions will result in severe consequences. The public can report potential fraud to the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office through their website.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland

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