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Criminal Justice

Indicted SCOTUSblog founder Tom Goldstein can’t switch collateral, magistrate judge rules

By Debra Cassens Weiss

January 30, 2025, 10:20 am CST

A federal magistrate judge has denied SCOTUSblog co-founder Tom Goldstein’s request to switch collateral to avoid putting at risk the Washington, D.C., home that he owns with his wife, SCOTUSblog co-founder and reporter Amy Howe.

“The court finds that maintaining the Hawthorne Street property (the residence of Mr. Goldstein’s wife) as the property subject to forfeiture under the appearance bond … is necessary to reasonably assure that Mr. Goldstein will appear for all future proceedings in this case,” wrote Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan of the District of Maryland in a Jan. 29 order.

In a motion filed that same day, Goldstein had argued that he had to use equity in the Hawthorne Street home to pay his lawyers in the federal tax case against him.

Goldstein had asked the court to substitute South Carolina properties owned by his father, stepmother and half-sister, Law360 reports.

Goldstein is represented by John Lauro of Lauro & Singer and Christopher Kise of Continental, lawyers who have also represented President Donald Trump, Bloomberg Law has reported. Stuart Berman of Lerch, Early & Brewer may be serving as local counsel, Lauro said when Goldstein pleaded not guilty to tax and loan fraud charges Monday.

Goldstein’s Jan. 16 tax indictment alleged that he schemed to understate gambling winnings on tax returns that he earned in “ultrahigh-stakes” poker matches, failed to report cryptocurrency transactions, used millions of dollars of his law firm’s money to pay gambling and personal debts, used firm cash to pay health insurance and salaries to women he was pursuing or with whom he was involved, and failed to report money owed in debts and taxes when he applied for a mortgage.

Goldstein was a U.S. Supreme Court litigator at Goldstein & Russell, the boutique firm that he owned until he announced in March 2023 that he was retiring from practice.

Goldstein is facing four counts of tax evasion, 10 counts of aiding and assisting the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns, five counts of willful failure to pay taxes, and three counts relating to false statements on mortgage loan applications.

Goldstein’s lawyers have said he is “a prominent attorney with an impeccable reputation” who expects to be exonerated at trial.

Goldstein’s Jan. 29 motion also asked the judge to change the wording of his appearance bond, which allowed forfeiture of the home for failing to comply with conditions of release. Goldstein and his wife were concerned that the home could be forfeited based on a minor violation of release conditions.

One of the conditions of Goldstein’s release is that he refrain from gambling, including poker, PokerNews reports.

Sullivan agreed to the wording change. The appearance bond now requires forfeiture only if Goldstein fails to appear.

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3. New Hampshire Supreme Court justice is indicted

Judiciary

New Hampshire Supreme Court justice is indicted

By Debra Cassens Weiss

October 17, 2024, 9:25 am CDT

A New Hampshire Supreme Court justice has been indicted for allegedly trying to interfere with a criminal investigation of her husband.

The charges for Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi include two felonies: attempt to commit improper influence and criminal solicitation of improper influence, according to a Oct. 16 press release by New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella.

Law360, the Associated Press, fWMUR, InDepthNH.org and the New Hampshire Bulletin are among the publications with coverage.

Hantz Marconi was placed on administrative leave for 90 days in a July 25 order, according to a prior story by New Hampshire Public Radio.

Hantz Marconi’s husband, Geno Marconi, is the director of the New Hampshire Division of Ports and Harbors. He was placed on administrative leave in April, according to WMUR. A spokesperson for the state attorney general’s office said the investigation into Marconi is still open, according to the AP. No charges have been filed.

An indictment alleges that Hantz Marconi told New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu that the investigation of her husband was due to personal, petty or political biases. She also allegedly said the investigation should be quickly completed because she recused herself from important cases while it was being conducted.

Law360 reports that Hantz Marconi had recused herself from all cases involving the state attorney general’s office.

Besides being charged with two felonies, Hantz Marconi is charged with five misdemeanor counts: two counts of criminal solicitation of misuse of position, one count of criminal solicitation of official oppression, one count of official oppression and one count of obstructing government administration.

Lawyers for Hantz Marconi told several publications that their client didn’t violate any law or rule, and that she is innocent.

“We will fight the charges to the fullest extent permitted by the law, starting with motions to dismiss the case, which we anticipate filing soon,” said the lawyers, Richard Guerriero, Jonathan Kotlier and Oliver Bloom. “We intend to fight these wrongful accusations in court, where the fight should occur, and not in the media.”

Five teenagers and a 20-year-old man have been indicted in the murder of a 16-year-old boy beaten and left for dead on an Arizona road after a Halloween party amid a wave of teen violence.

In announcing the arrests in the October killing of Preston Lord of three men, ages 18, 19 and 20, and three 17-year-old boys, Maricopa County Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell said evidence includes 600 pieces of video, and talked about the family’s agony as the investigation remains ongoing.

“The loss of a child is unimaginable for most of us, but to live it is a whole new level of horror,” she said.

In a statement, Preston’s family expressed gratitude to community members who provided information to secure the arrests.

“But for law enforcement’s collective efforts and community members’ invaluable cooperation, these arrests would not have happened,” the statement said. “Each arrest represents a step towards accountability and justice for our son Preston.”