Former lawyer Tom Goldstein received a sentence of six years in federal prison in the United States. The decision came five months after the jury found him guilty of tax crimes related to his earnings from high-stakes poker games. In addition, the court ordered the payment of US$ 3.1 million in restitution and five years of supervised release.
Read more Mark Davis dies at 46 and leaves a remarkable legacy in American poker
Furthermore, the case gained great prominence in the legal field and the poker community. Tom Goldstein participated in million-dollar disputes in several countries and saw his trial bring together well-known names, such as Alec Gores and actor Tobey Maguire, who testified during the process.
Thus, in February, the jury convicted Goldstein, aged 56, on 12 of the 16 charges presented. These included tax evasion, failure to pay taxes, false statements to financial institutions, and aiding in the preparation of false tax returns.
However, Tom Goldstein built a prominent career before his legal troubles. Founder of SCOTUSblog, he appeared several times before the United States Supreme Court. At the same time, he played extremely high-stakes poker games and earned US$ 50 million in 2016 alone.
Read more Maurice Hawkins wins 26th WSOP Circuit ring and extends historic record
Former lawyer intends to appeal the conviction
Throughout the trial, the prosecution stated that Tom Goldstein concealed millions of dollars in poker winnings to avoid paying taxes. On the other hand, the former lawyer maintained that he never intended to evade taxes and stated that he intended to pay the amounts owed.
Thus, Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby rejected, in June, the request for a new trial. In her decision, she highlighted that “this was not a balanced case” and concluded that the evidence presented during the process supported the conviction for tax crimes.
Finally, Tom Goldstein‘s defense has not ended the legal dispute. The lawyers filed a request for the former professional to remain free while appealing to the Court of Appeals. Alternatively, they also requested a postponement of the date to begin serving the sentence.
Read more Iago Botelho earns R$ 1 million with SHR title at BSOP Winter
