01 Mar 2026 Beginner This material is for beginner players A federal judge in Maryland will decide if lawyer and high-stakes poker player Thomas Goldstein should remain in custody until he is sentenced. Goldstein was found guilty of federal tax fraud this week in Greenbelt, Maryland, in a case that has hit the headlines. The government's lawyers now want him to stay in jail until his sentence hearing, which could be months from now, according to court records. Jury Finds Goldstein Guilty on 12 Counts On Wednesday, a jury found Goldstein guilty of 12 of the 16 criminal charges that were linked to private high-stakes poker cash games. The case was about his alleged poker winnings in these private games. According to testimonies, Goldstein won more than $50 million in 2016. Authorities indicated Goldstein lied to mortgage lenders and did not report his income correctly as required by the law. Many people testified over the course of several weeks, and the jury mostly agreed with the prosecutors. Goldstein was once a very renowned lawyer who made a name for himself in the legal world while also playing in some of the biggest private poker cash games in the world. This decision was a huge blow to him. Government Wants Him Jailed Before Sentencing Goldstein's lawyers filed a response a day after the court's verdict. They said the government had just said it would try to keep him in jail until he is sentenced. His lawyers argued that the request was unnecessary and contradicted the statements made by Pretrial Services, the office responsible for monitoring defendants prior to trial. Usually people are not sentenced immediately. A judge might take a few months to decide whether Goldstein will stay in jail and for how long. If found guilty, Goldstein will face serious punishments and will likely spend several years behind bars. Defense Says He Followed All Release Rules According to Goldstein's lawyers, authorities have no reason to still put him in custody since he has done everything the court told him to do and should be granted bail. Goldstein had to adhere to very strict rules. First, authorities confiscated his passport and required him to stay within the Washington, D.C., area. The court further barred him from talking to more than 80 people who are all connected with the case. Additionally, the court ordered him to cease all gambling, closely monitored his computer, and required him to provide detailed financial reports. Early on in the case, a judge in Maryland indicated that Goldstein might be a flight risk. There were reports that he didn't tell anyone about cryptocurrency transactions worth millions of dollars, which made the authorities concerned. The court also commented about his ties to people outside of the US, such as Paul Phua, a businessman from Malaysia. However, his lawyers contended that the strict conditions of his release have already mitigated those risks. They said that the government didn't even stop him from going to another country to see his child graduate. According to his lawyers, his past actions indicate he is unlikely to run away. Strong Words From Federal Officials Federal officials publicly commented on the verdict after its announcement. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said that Goldstein is guilty of lying to mortgage lenders and not paying his taxes, based on the jury's decision. The US Attorney, Kelly O. Hayes, stated that Goldstein lied instead of telling the truth and tried to avoid paying what he owed while living a fancy life. There was no more talk from either the authorities or Goldstein's defenders after the decision. At the moment everyone is waiting to see the judges' decision. While Goldstein waits to hear his final sentence, the court has to decide whether he will be free on bond but closely watched or remain in custody.
