Maryland

Maryland litigator convicted of tax evasion over income from high-stakes poker

Published

2 months ago

February 26, 2026

Maryland litigator convicted of tax evasion over income from high-stakes poker

MARYLAND (WBFF) — A prominent Supreme Court litigator who also published a popular blog about the nation’s highest court was convicted Wednesday of tax evasion and related charges stemming from his secretive lifestyle as an ultra-high-stakes poker player.

A federal jury found SCOTUSblog co-founder Thomas Goldstein guilty of 12 of 16 counts after a six-week trial in Greenbelt, Maryland. Jurors deliberated for approximately two days before convicting Goldstein of one count of tax evasion, four of eight counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, four counts of willful failure to timely pay taxes, and three counts of false statements on loan applications.

Goldstein was charged with failing to pay taxes on millions of dollars in gambling income. Justice Department prosecutors also accused him of diverting money from his law firm to pay gambling debts and falsely deducting gambling debts as business expenses.

Goldstein argued more than 40 cases before the Supreme Court before retiring in 2023. He was part of the legal team that represented Democrat Al Gore in the Supreme Court litigation over the 2000 election ultimately won by Republican President George W. Bush.

Goldstein’s indictment a year ago sent shockwaves through the legal community in Washington, D.C. Many friends and colleagues didn’t know the extent of his gambling.

“He lied to everyone around him,” Justice Department prosecutor Sean Beaty said during the trial’s closing arguments.

Defense attorney Jonathan Kravis said the government rushed to judgment and failed to adequately investigate the case. Goldstein made “innocent mistakes” on his tax returns but didn’t cheat on his taxes or knowingly make false statements on his tax returns, Kravis told jurors.

“A mistake is not a crime,” he said.

Beaty described Goldstein as a “willful tax cheat.” Goldstein raked in approximately $50 million in poker winnings in 2016, including roughly $22 million that he won playing in Asia, according to Beaty. The prosecutor said the tax evasion scheme “fell apart” when another gambler, feeling cheated by Goldstein, notified the IRS about a 2016 debt owed to the attorney.

“It was a textbook tax-evasion scheme,” Beaty said. “And Mr. Goldstein executed that nearly flawlessly.”

The trial, which started Jan. 12, included testimony by “Spider-Man” star Tobey Maguire, an avid poker player who enlisted Goldstein’s help in recovering a gambling debt from a billionaire.

Goldstein, who testified in his own defense, denied any wrongdoing. He has said he repeatedly instructed his law firm’s staff and accountants to correctly characterize his personal expenses. In a 2014 email, he told a firm employee that “we always play completely by the rules.”

Goldstein also was accused of lying to IRS agents and hiding his gambling debts from his accountants, employees and mortgage lenders. He omitted a $15 million gambling debt from mortgage loan applications while looking for a new home in Washington, D.C., with his wife in 2021, his indictment alleges.

“He was thinking only of his wife when he left off the gambling debts,” Kravis said.

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Maryland

Speeding motorcycle rider dies in t-bone crash along Marriottsville Road

Published

9 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Speeding motorcycle rider dies in t-bone crash along Marriottsville Road

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — A t-bone crash involving a motorcycle left a 24-year-old Hampstead man dead on Saturday evening.

It happened around 6:30pm, along Marriottsville Road in Howard County.

That’s where a Yamaha FZ09 was heading northbound when it collided with an oncoming Nissan Rogue that was trying to make a left turn onto Warwick Way.

“Preliminary investigation suggests the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed,” Howard County Police said in a press release.

The motorcycle rider later died at University of Maryland Shock Trauma.

Police say the Nissan driver, who was not hurt, remained on scene and cooperated with investigators.

Marriottsville Road was reopened after being closed for about three-hours.

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Maryland

Maryland Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for April 18, 2026

Published

21 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Maryland Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for April 18, 2026

The Maryland Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at April 18, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from April 18 drawing

24-25-39-46-61, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 5

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 18 drawing

Midday: 9-4-0

Evening: 9-3-4

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 18 drawing

Midday: 8-3-0-6

Evening: 7-2-1-2

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 18 drawing

Midday: 5-3-8-8-7

Evening: 6-7-3-8-9

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 18 drawing

9 a.m.: 03

1 p.m.: 14

6 p.m.: 10

11 p.m.: 08

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Bonus Match 5 numbers from April 18 drawing

06-20-33-34-36, Bonus: 11

Check Bonus Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from April 18 drawing

02-38-45-53-63, Powerball: 21

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Keno

Drawings are held every four minutes. Check winning numbers here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Maryland Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes above $600, winners can claim by mail or in person from the Maryland Lottery office, an Expanded Cashing Authority Program location or cashiers’ windows at Maryland casinos. Prizes over $5,000 must be claimed in person.

Claiming by Mail

Sign your winning ticket and complete a claim form. Include a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID and a copy of a document that shows proof of your Social Security number or Federal Tax ID number. Mail these to:

Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center

1800 Washington Boulevard

Suite 330

Baltimore, MD 21230

For prizes over $600, bring your signed ticket, a government-issued photo ID, and proof of your Social Security or Federal Tax ID number to Maryland Lottery headquarters, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD. Claims are by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This location handles all prize amounts, including prizes over $5,000.

Winning Tickets Worth $25,000 or Less

Maryland Lottery headquarters and select Maryland casinos can redeem winning tickets valued up to $25,000. Note that casinos cannot cash prizes over $600 for non-resident and resident aliens (tax ID beginning with “9”). You must be at least 21 years of age to enter a Maryland casino. Locations include:

Horseshoe Casino: 1525 Russell Street, Baltimore, MD
MGM National Harbor: 101 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD
Live! Casino: 7002 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD
Ocean Downs Casino: 10218 Racetrack Road, Berlin, MD
Hollywood Casino: 1201 Chesapeake Overlook Parkway, Perryville, MD
Rocky Gap Casino: 16701 Lakeview Road NE, Flintstone, MD

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Maryland Lottery.

When are the Maryland Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 11 p.m. ET Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5 Midday: 12:27 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 12:28 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.
Pick 3, 4 and 5 Evening: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Cash4Life: 9 p.m. ET daily.
Cash Pop: 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily.
Bonus Match 5: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
MultiMatch: 7:56 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
Powerball Double Play: 11 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Maryland editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Maryland

Forward Maban Jabriel Becomes Maryland’s Fourth Transfer In

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Forward Maban Jabriel Becomes Maryland’s Fourth Transfer In

Buzz Williams has brought the number of new players joining the Maryland Terrapins next season to eight.

The Terps have the nation’s No. 8 freshmen recruiting class, consisting of four players including five-star small forward Baba Oladotun. Now, they have just as many transfer portal additions.

Their latest acquisition is forward Maban Jabriel, who previously spent two years with Queens University of Charlotte, a member of the ASUN.

Jabriel announced his commitment to Maryland on his Instagram account:

During his sophomore campaign with the Royals, Jabriel played in all 35 games, mainly off the bench, and averaged 7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 19.8 minutes.

Shooting is Jabriel’s greatest strength. At 6’9″, he has the size to win battles close to the basket, but the Waterloo, Ontario native can score from all over the court.

Jabriel shot 49.5% from the field, 43.2% from deep, and 77.4% at the free throw line last season. The Terps can certainly use the help after being the worst shooting team (40.7% overall) not just in the Big Ten, but across all the Power conferences.

The rest of Maryland’s transfer class looks like this:

Tomislav Buljan – power forward who averaged 13.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists for New Mexico last season.

Robert Jennings II – power forward who averaged 5.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.3 assists for Oklahoma State in 2024-25 (injured most of last season).

Bishop Boswell – combo guard who averaged 6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists for Tennessee last season.

Put together, the Terps currently have the No. 4 incoming crop of players, according to 247 Sports. That figure was as high as No. 1 this offseason and could rise back up with additional moves.

Maryland is confirmed to be keeping at least three players from last season: Rakease Passmore, who redshirted due to injury, along with Andre Mills and George Turkson Jr.

Pharrel Payne also wishes to return but is waiting for his medical hardship waiver to be approved by the NCAA.

That leaves Buzz with three scholarship spots to fill – either with more transfers or the undecided members of last year’s team, Myles Rice and Guillermo Del Pino.

Players only have until this Tuesday, April 21 to enter the portal, so a decision for both Rice and Del Pino will be made soon.

Maryland On SI will continue to cover the Terps’ transfer portal transactions as they occur.