Last month, SCOTUSblog co-founder and veteran Supreme Court litigator Tom Goldstein was arrested on a 22-count indictment alleging tax crimes and making false statement to lenders. According to the government, Goldstein participated in high-stakes poker games and failed to disclose his winnings (in tax filings) and losings (in loan applications).
Goldstein secured his release with his marital home, but is seeking to modify the conditions of his release. In a filing (notably filed pro se, despite retaining John F. Lauro of Lauro & Singer and Stuart Berman of Lerch Early & Brewer Chtd. for his arraignment), Goldstein is seeking to put up another property fas collateral or his release, claiming he needs the assets in his residence to fund his defense. The government opposes the motion — they say despite Goldstein’s claim to have a negative net worth in the neighborhood of $3.3 million, he poses a “significant” flight risk. Prosecutors also countered claims about Goldstein’s financial condition, pointing out he has a bank account with $250,000, and large monthly outlays including $5,000 a month for a housekeeper, $8,000 on a personal assistant, and an apartment in Dallas he’s spending $20,000 monthly on.
As reported by Bloomberg Law, government attorneys also say Goldstein did some interfering with their investigation:
They also say Goldstein poses “a potential danger to the administration of justice,” claiming he has instructed potential witnesses to destroy evidence and suggesting he has attempted to pay off would-be witnesses.
After learning of the federal investigation, Goldstein “offered things of value, including cryptocurrency, to a potential witness in the case who has intimate knowledge of his and his law firm’s finances and income,” they allege. There “was no other credible reason for doing so than to attempt to prevent the potential witness from assisting in the investigation.”
But Goldstein counters the government’s accusations he’s a “very real risk” with the fact he’s “a deeply respected member of the bar who practiced at the highest level for decades.” He also says he’s known about the government investigation for years, has traveled extensively worldwide during that time, but “always returned home.”
A hearing on Goldstein’s collateral, and the matter of his representation, will be held later this week.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
The post SCOTUSblog Founder Interfered With Witness, Poses A Flight Risk, According To Prosecutors appeared first on Above the Law.
Last month, SCOTUSblog co-founder and veteran Supreme Court litigator Tom Goldstein was arrested on a 22-count indictment alleging tax crimes and making false statement to lenders. According to the government, Goldstein participated in high-stakes poker games and failed to disclose his winnings (in tax filings) and losings (in loan applications).
Goldstein secured his release with his marital home, but is seeking to modify the conditions of his release. In a filing (notably filed pro se, despite retaining John F. Lauro of Lauro & Singer and Stuart Berman of Lerch Early & Brewer Chtd. for his arraignment), Goldstein is seeking to put up another property fas collateral or his release, claiming he needs the assets in his residence to fund his defense. The government opposes the motion — they say despite Goldstein’s claim to have a negative net worth in the neighborhood of $3.3 million, he poses a “significant” flight risk. Prosecutors also countered claims about Goldstein’s financial condition, pointing out he has a bank account with $250,000, and large monthly outlays including $5,000 a month for a housekeeper, $8,000 on a personal assistant, and an apartment in Dallas he’s spending $20,000 monthly on.
As reported by Bloomberg Law, government attorneys also say Goldstein did some interfering with their investigation:
They also say Goldstein poses “a potential danger to the administration of justice,” claiming he has instructed potential witnesses to destroy evidence and suggesting he has attempted to pay off would-be witnesses.
After learning of the federal investigation, Goldstein “offered things of value, including cryptocurrency, to a potential witness in the case who has intimate knowledge of his and his law firm’s finances and income,” they allege. There “was no other credible reason for doing so than to attempt to prevent the potential witness from assisting in the investigation.”
But Goldstein counters the government’s accusations he’s a “very real risk” with the fact he’s “a deeply respected member of the bar who practiced at the highest level for decades.” He also says he’s known about the government investigation for years, has traveled extensively worldwide during that time, but “always returned home.”
A hearing on Goldstein’s collateral, and the matter of his representation, will be held later this week.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
