Lawyer’s Poker Wins Lead to Tax Conviction

A former Supreme Court attorney—known for his popular court blog—has been found guilty of multiple tax offenses stemming from undisclosed poker winnings.
The case, which unfolded over six weeks in Greenbelt, Maryland, ended with a jury sentencing him to conviction on twelve of sixteen charges after two days of deliberation.

Charges and Admissions

The prosecutor alleged that the lawyer concealed $50 million in poker earnings—$22 million from Asian tournaments—to pay gambling debts, then claimed those debts as legitimate business expenses.

Background

• Career Highlights
• Argued over 40 cases before the Supreme Court.
• Retired in 2023 after a distinguished tenure.
• Legal team previously represented Al Gore during the 2000 election dispute.

• Personal Life
• Friends were surprised by the indictment last year, unaware of his gambling scale.
• The judge noted that the scheme unraveled when another gambler reported a debt to the IRS in 2016.

Trial Highlights

• A well‑known actor, also a poker enthusiast, testified that he had sought the lawyer’s help with debt owed by a billionaire.
• The defendant denied wrongdoing, asserting that he instructed staff to record expenses correctly.
• He was accused of lying to IRS agents and concealing a $15 million gambling debt from mortgage lenders, which he omitted when applying for a new home in Washington, D.C., with his wife.

Reactions

• Prosecutor: “Willful tax cheat.”
• Defense: Argues that the government rushed to judgment and that mistakes on tax returns should not be criminalized.

The outcome underscores that even high‑profile legal professionals can face severe repercussions for violating tax laws.