Former lawyer Tom Goldstein sentenced to six years in prison for high-stakes poker tax fraud.

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Five months after being convicted of tax evasion related to high-stakes poker tournaments, former superstar lawyer Tom Goldstein was sentenced to six years in federal prison on Friday.。

According to Bloomberg Legal, which first reported on Goldstein's sentencing, Goldstein was also ordered to pay $3.1 million in restitution and undergo five years of supervised release.

Goldstein's sentencing brought to a close this legendary case that shook the gambling and legal worlds. His high-profile trial focused on ultra-high-stakes poker tournaments from Asia to Hollywood—in which Goldstein frequently won or lost millions of dollars—and featured testimony from witnesses such as billionaire Alec Gores and Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire.

In February of this year, a jury in Greenbelt, Maryland, found 56-year-old Goldstein guilty on 12 of 16 charges, including one count of tax evasion, four counts of willful failure to pay taxes on time, three counts of making false statements to mortgage lenders, and four of eight counts of aiding and abetting the preparation of false tax returns.

Goldstein wins millions of dollars in high-stakes poker tournaments.

Goldstein, founder of SCOTUSblog, was one of the most distinguished lawyers in the United States, frequently arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court and teaching at top universities. However, outside the courtroom, he is an ultra-high-stakes poker player, participating in heads-up tournaments around the world and winning $50 million in 2016 alone.

Guided by poker pros Andrew Robl and Keith Gipson, Goldstein faced a lineup of billionaires, including billionaires Alec Gores and Andy Beal—from whom he won $77 million—as well as unnamed Asian gamblers “Tango” and “Chairman,” from whom Goldstein won $23 million.

Goldstein has also experienced losses, including a $14 million loss to American real estate tycoon Bob Safai.

Goldstein's lavish lifestyle as a high-stakes poker player was detailed during the trial, filled with dramatic moments. He was "best friends" with controversial social media playboy Dan Bilzerian, played poker at Kevin Hart's birthday party in Mykonos, Greece, and served as the lawyer for actor Tobey Maguire in his pursuit of $7.8 million in poker debts from Andy Beal.

A "secret" poker ledger revealed during the trial exposed Goldstein's other rivals, including poker legend Dan "Jungleman" Cates and billionaire Silicon Valley investor Chamath Palihapitiya.

Prosecutors accused Goldstein of deliberately concealing millions of dollars in poker winnings from his accountants, while Goldstein maintained his innocence, stating that he had always intended to pay the taxes he owed.

Goldstein assembled a powerful legal defense team and demanded a full acquittal or an immediate retrial. He also hired a top-tier legal team, including former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Elizabeth Prelogar.

In June of this year, U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby rejected Goldstein's request for a retrial, stating that "this is not a close case" and noting that "the jury never indicated during its two-day deliberation that it would be difficult to reach a verdict."

"The court finds that the evidence presented during the trial is sufficient to support a conviction under both challenged theories of tax evasion," Judge Griggsby wrote on June 22.

Sentenced to six years in prison

Subsequently, at today's sentencing hearing, Judge Griggsby sentenced Goldstein to six years in federal prison.

Goldstein faces up to 30 years in prison for each of the charges of making false statements to mortgage lenders. Prosecutors, believing Goldstein to be a flight risk, have asked the court to detain him before sentencing and are seeking eight years in prison and $3.1 million in restitution.

Following his conviction in February, a white-collar criminal defense lawyer told PokerNews that he expected Goldstein to be sentenced to several years in prison.

"I think he'll likely be in jail for a few years, but far less than 30," said Andrew Bernstein of Fox Rothschild.

In December 2025, Goldstein told The New York Times that the government had offered him a plea deal of about five years, but he declined.

Goldstein's battle is not over yet. On Wednesday, Goldstein's lawyers filed a motion for release during the appeal process, stating that "he intends to appeal the decision immediately to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals."

As an alternative, Goldstein also proposed a motion to postpone the date of his surrender.

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