Why did SCOTUSblog founder Goldstein bring nearly $1M in cash into US? Explanation won't be suppressed
Indicted SCOTUSblog co-founder Tom Goldstein has failed to persuade a federal judge to suppress his statements about nearly $1 million in cash that he was carrying when he entered the United States in October 2018.
In an Oct. 7 order, U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby of the District of Maryland refused to suppress Goldstein’s alleged statement that $968,000 in cash that he brought into the country “was gambling winnings from Macau.” The government relied on the statement to support an allegation that Goldstein, a former U.S. Supreme Court litigator, committed tax evasion by failing to report the money as income.
Goldstein’s motion to suppress the statement to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer said he was not advised of his Miranda rights during questioning.
Griggsby also rejected Goldstein’s motion to dismiss four counts of the indictment relating to alleged tax fraud in 2016. Goldstein had claimed that the counts were barred by the statute of limitations.
A 22-count indictment accuses Goldstein of tax evasion, aiding and assisting the preparation of false tax returns, willful failure to pay taxes, and making false statements on mortgage loan applications. The indictment described Goldstein as an “ultrahigh-stakes poker player” who underreported millions of dollars in gambling winnings and used his law firm to help cover his debts.
A superseding indictment in August added new details but no new counts.
Hat tip to How Appealing.
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