A federal judge ordered the release of Tom Goldstein from custody in Maryland after the prominent attorney was arrested this week for allegedly violating his bail.
Goldstein was arrested Monday after investigators said they discovered undisclosed cryptocurrency wallets that sent and received millions in transactions this past week. Goldstein, a top Supreme Court of the United States and founder of the popular SCOTUSblog, denied ownership of the wallets and said the government “made a mistake.”
Today, Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan ordered Goldstein’s release after reviewing evidence submitted by Goldstein that “casts sufficient doubt” that he owned the two crypto wallets.
Sullivan had previously ordered Goldstein’s arrest after finding “clear and convincing evidence” that he violated pretrial release conditions and posed a flight risk.
“Given the information that Mr. Goldstein has now presented … the Court is no longer convinced, by clear and convincing evidence, that Mr. Goldstein violated his conditions of release,” Judge Sullivan wrote on Thursday.
However, Judge Sullivan also said the Court was “highly suspicious that Mr. Goldstein has used cryptocurrency while on conditions of release.”
“There is ample evidence that Mr. Goldstein has been and remains a sophisticated and frequent user of cryptocurrency for years,” he wrote. “He has used cryptocurrency—or directed others to use it on his behalf—to pay for everything from gambling losses to luxury watches for multiple women.”
Goldstein Denies Ownership of Crypto Wallets
Judge Modifies Goldstein’s Release Terms
Judge Sullivan revised Goldstein’s conditions of release, requiring him to disclose all financial accounts and crypto wallets and stating that he “shall not access, receive, send and/or transfer any cryptocurrency.”
“Given Mr. Goldstein’s extensive past use of cryptocurrency, the Court finds it likely that Mr. Goldstein has access to funds that have yet to be identified, and which he might use to flee from prosecution in this case,” he wrote.
Goldstein was also ordered to “Refrain from the use of computer systems, Internet-capable devices and/or similar electronic devices at any location … without the prior written approval of the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office monitoring of compliance with this condition.”
His previous release conditions also apply, including being prohibited from playing poker while awaiting trial.
Goldstein was charged last month in a 22-count indictment related to high-stakes poker winnings and losses. He is accused of tax evasion, preparing false and fraudulent tax returns, and making false statements on mortgage applications.
He was being held without bail at Maryland’s maximum-security Chesapeake Detention Facility in Baltimore.
*This is a developing story and will be updated.
*Lead image courtesy Legaleagle22/WikiCommons
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