Goldstein Denied Acquittal and New Trial After February Convictions
Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby denied Tom Goldstein’s bid for acquittal and a new trial on June 16, leaving his February convictions in place on tax and loan-fraud charges. The ruling came in Greenbelt, Maryland, and keeps the case on track for sentencing on July 24. Goldstein remains under home confinement while he awaits that hearing.
Goldstein’s February convictions
Goldstein was convicted in February on one count of tax evasion, four counts of willful failure to timely pay taxes, three counts of making a false statement on a loan application, and four out of eight counts of aiding and assisting in preparation of a false tax return. The jury also found him not guilty on four counts.
That split verdict left both sides with something to point to. Prosecutors kept convictions on the core charges, while the defense used the acquittals as part of its post-verdict push to undo the result.
Griggsby’s June 16 ruling
From the bench in Greenbelt, Md., Griggsby said, “I don’t really feel the case was all that close, to be perfectly candid,” after denying the motion. She acknowledged that altering the jury instructions after closing arguments was a technical violation of criminal procedural rules.
Even so, she said she did not see any evidence that the defense’s ability to present its case was affected. The defense had argued that a gambling ledger and text messages should not have been excluded from the trial, but the judge rejected the bid for acquittal or a new trial.
July 24 sentencing
The ruling leaves Goldstein facing a sentencing hearing scheduled for July 24, with prosecutors seeking an eight-year prison term and Goldstein asking for a non-custodial sentence. US Probation and Pretrial Services said it would be appropriate to allow him to self-surrender if he goes to prison.
Stephany Reaves, one of Goldstein’s lawyers, said in court that the government’s suggestion that Goldstein filed a false tax return in 2025 was “totally false.” The case also involved allegations tied to Goldstein’s high-stakes gambling habit, including claims that he gambled after being indicted in mid-January 2025.
