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The federal prison trial of celebrity legal professional and high-stakes poker participant Tom Goldstein continues this week in Greenbelt, Maryland, and PokerNews is on the bottom to supply protection.
Goldstein, who had argued dozens of circumstances earlier than the US Supreme Courtroom earlier than retiring from legislation in 2023, was indicted in January 2025 on tax fraud expenses associated to high-stakes poker matches the place Goldstein recurrently gained and misplaced tens of millions.
The fees towards Goldstein, which had been narrowed late final yr, embrace tax evasion, falsifying tax returns, failing to pay taxes, and making false statements to 2 separate mortgage lenders. He has pleaded not responsible to all expenses and mentioned he all the time meant to pay what he owed in taxes.
Up to now, the trial, which started on Jan. 12, has featured testimony from the likes of Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire, high-stakes poker participant Rick Salomon, California actual property mogul Bob Safai and billionaire Alec Gores.
A spokesperson for the US District Courtroom Greenbelt Division advised PokerNews that the trial is anticipated to wrap up in mid-February.
Listed here are some reporting highlights from the Goldstein case:
One other Witness Takes the Stand
Feb. 4, 2026, 2:47 p.m. EasternConnor Richards — Reporting from Greenbelt, Maryland
The second witness of Day 12 is Dai Wai Chin Feman of Parabellum Capital, an funding agency that loaned Tom Goldstein’s legislation agency cash starting in 2021.
Afternoon Break
Feb. 4, 2026, 2:27 p.m. EasternConnor Richards — Reporting from Greenbelt, Maryland
Choose Lydia Kay Griggsby has despatched the jurors on their afternoon break after one other prolonged cross-examination and re-direct of tax specialist Walter Deyhle.
Authorized Analyst Jeffrey Toobin Might Testify Over New York Instances Story
Feb. 4, 2026, 1:20 p.m. EasternConnor Richards — Reporting from Greenbelt, Maryland
Earlier than resuming cross-examination, the prosecution mentioned they’re retracting their request for New York Instances truth checker Rudy Lee to testify over a December 2025 article and interview with Tom Goldstein.
Nonetheless, the prosecution continues to be asking authorized analyst Jeffrey Toobin, the article’s writer, to testify on Thursday. The protection has said opposition, and Choose Lydia Kay Griggsby mentioned she is going to rule on the matter tomorrow at 9 a.m. native time.
In his interview with Toobin, Goldstein spoke candidly and extensively about his poker matches, together with profitable over $26 million towards billionaire Alec Gores.
Trial Resumes
Feb. 4, 2026, 1:20 p.m. EasternConnor Richards — Reporting from Greenbelt, Maryland
The trial will now resume after lunch break, choosing up with the remaining cross-examination of tax specialist Walter Deyhle.
Lunch Break
Feb. 4, 2026, 11:54 a.m. EasternConnor Richards — Reporting from Greenbelt, Maryland
After greater than an hour of cross-examination, Choose Lydia Kay Griggsby has despatched the jury on their lunch break. The trial will resume at 1:10 p.m. native time.
Protection Tries Turning Tables on Tax Preparer
Feb. 4, 2026, 11:53 a.m. EasternConnor Richards — Reporting from Greenbelt, Maryland
Walter Deyhle was questioned in a contentious cross-examination the place Goldstein’s legal professional, Jonathan Kravis, tried to show the tables round, arguing that Tom Goldstein’s alleged tax violations had been a results of accounting errors and a scarcity of diligence by Deyhle.
Whereas Deyhle admitted to a “minor error” on his behalf in itemizing Goldstein’s 2016 web poker winnings (Goldstein’s winnings after paying out backers) and gross poker winnings (the entire sum he gained) , he attributed the error to Goldstein getting him the tax data on the final minute.
“It doesn’t have an effect on the tax legal responsibility,” Deyhle added.
At one level, Kravis instructed Deyhle to manually calculate the web winnings quantity, resulting in a little bit of a clumsy second when Deyhle could not work the calculator earlier than ultimately doing the calculation on his telephone.
The protection additionally referenced an October 2017 e-mail from Goldstein that they mentioned contradicts Deyhle’s testimony, and accused prosecutors of violating a federal legislation requiring them to reveal exculpatory data to the protection.
Jury Takes Morning Break
Feb. 4, 2026, 10:30 a.m. EasternConnor Richards — Reporting from Greenbelt, Maryland
Choose Lydia Kay Griggsby has despatched the federal grand jury on their morning break forward of cross-examination of Walter Deyhle.
Tax Preparer Says Goldstein Did not Point out Crypto Belongings
Feb. 4, 2026, 10:29 a.m. EasternConnor Richards — Reporting from Greenbelt, Maryland
Walter Deyhle of GRF CPAs & Advisors, a former tax preparer of Tom Goldstein, was the primary witness of Day 12 as he continued testimony from Tuesday.
Deyhle was requested about tax filings he ready for Goldstein in 2020 and 2021, and particularly about cryptocurrency earnings that prosecutors allege Goldstein didn’t disclose — which led to his re-arrest in February 2025.
Deyhle testified that Goldstein hadn’t disclosed any crypto exercise, which prosecutors say included tons of of 1000’s of {dollars} in transactions from Coinbase and Binance accounts.
“He didn’t inform us something about that,” Deyhle mentioned.
Choose Lydia Kay Griggsby Takes the Bench
Feb. 4, 2026, 9:43 a.m. EasternConnor Richards — Reporting from Greenbelt, Maryland
Choose Lydia Kay Griggsby has taken the bench and given an overview for the day. The federal government is predicted to name a number of further witnesses on Day 12.
There shall be no listening to on Friday because of scheduling conflicts with a number of jurors.
Connor Richards
Senior Editor U.S.
