Businessman Says He Had Trouble Collecting $6M Poker Debt from Tom Goldstein

The trial of Tom Goldstein continues this week and has featured testimony from a number of authorities witnesses, together with a high-stakes poker participant who claimed he had hassle recovering a seven-figure poker debt from the embattled lawyer.

Bob Safai, a California actual property mogul and high-stakes money recreation participant, testified on Tuesday about high-stakes poker matches he performed in opposition to Goldstein in 2017. PokerNews reported on the alleged matches final yr, which resulted in a $14 million loss for Goldstein.

Hassle Recovering Winnings

Safai, the founding father of Madison Companions, testified on Tuesday about taking part in poker in opposition to Goldstein and, in line with Bloomberg Legislation, described Goldstein’s poker type as “aggressive” and “erratic at occasions.”

His feedback monitor with earlier statements about Goldstein’s poker type. A 2008 Two Plus Two weblog submit after Goldstein performed at Bellagio Las Vegas described him as a “f***ing maniac,” whereas his shut buddy Dan Bilzerian referred to as him “my maniac bluff-happy lawyer.”

Goldstein’s matches in opposition to Safai got here on the heels of a 2016 heads-up heater that noticed Goldstein successful over $50 million from three opponents. However he had all of his motion this time round and ended up shedding $14 million to Safai. Bloomberg Legislation reported that, in his testimony, Safai mentioned he had hassle amassing his poker winnings after successful $6 million in a two-day match that happened over Labor Day in 2017.

PokerNews reported final yr that Goldstein nonetheless owed $6 million to Safai (recognized within the indictment as “California Businessman-3”) by mid-2018 and secured a promissory observe promising to pay again the sum and curiosity by Could 2020. Safai testified he had by no means needed to do one thing like that earlier than over playing money owed.

Bloomberg Legislation additional reported that Safai ultimately bought the observe to high-stakes poker participant Edwin “Eddie” Ting, a mutual buddy who PokerNews reported had been with Goldstein at Kevin Hart’s 2024 birthday bash in Mykonos, Greece.

Safai is primarily a money recreation participant, one who performed on early seasons of Excessive Stakes Poker, however he has performed high-stakes tournaments earlier than. PokerNews coated the true property mogul within the €1 million buy-in 2016 Massive One For One Drop in Monte Carlo, which additionally included the likes of Rick Salomon and Goldstein affiliate Paul Phua.

Trial Continues

Tuesday additionally noticed testimony from Kevin Russell, Goldstein’s former accomplice on the now-defunct Goldstein & Russell. In response to Legislation.com, Russell testified that Goldstein was a “very assured” and “very expert” lawyer who grew “bored with the apply of legislation” in 2023 and retired to pursue “another issues.”

Earlier within the trial, the jury heard testimony from billionaire Alec Gores, who Goldstein gained $26.4 million from, and former poker professional Keith Gipson, who, in line with Bloomberg Legislation, testified that he was one in every of two poker professionals who coached Goldstein for his heads-up matches.

Further testimony from witnesses is scheduled on Wednesday within the trial, which started final week and is anticipated to final a few month. Goldstein has pleaded not responsible to all prices, which embody tax evasion, falsifying tax returns, failing to pay taxes, and making false statements to 2 separate mortgage lenders.

Connor Richards is a Senior Editor U.S. for PokerNews and host of the Life Exterior Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for 3 International Poker Awards for his writing.

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