Judge Orders Goldstein to Forfeit $1 Million
A federal judge ruled that former Supreme Court advocate Tom Goldstein must give up $1 million from the sale of his home after his tax evasion conviction.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Financial Crime
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Federal Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby ruled Thursday that Tom Goldstein must forfeit $1 million from the sale of his home. The Justice Department had sought nearly $2 million, and Goldstein was previously sentenced to six years in prison for tax evasion.
Why it matters
The ruling shows federal prosecutors can recover proceeds tied to a fraudulent loan application, with the forfeiture amount reduced after Goldstein fully repaid the mortgage loan. It also underscores the consequences for a prominent Supreme Court litigator whose case drew attention in Washington legal circles.
Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby ordered $1 million forfeited from the home sale, down from the nearly $2 million the Justice Department sought. Goldstein has appealed his conviction, and the appeal is pending.
The players
Tom Goldstein
Tom Goldstein is a lawyer who argued more than 40 cases before the Supreme Court and founded the SCOTUSBlog legal news site.
Lydia Kay Griggsby
Lydia Kay Griggsby is the federal judge who ruled on the forfeiture of Goldstein's home sale proceeds.
The details
The home was obtained through a loan application that omitted Goldstein's poker debts, which he had concealed from family and friends. The forfeiture was reduced because Goldstein fully repaid the NFM mortgage loan.
Timeline
July 2026: Goldstein was sentenced to six years in prison.
Thursday, November 5, 2026: Judge Griggsby ordered the $1 million forfeiture.
Legal Context
Federal prosecutors routinely seek forfeiture of assets obtained through fraudulent loan applications in white-collar cases. In this case, the amount ordered was reduced after Goldstein repaid the underlying mortgage, a factor that shaped the final figure.
The ruling shows that federal courts can claw back assets linked to loan fraud even after the underlying loan has been repaid in part. Borrowers who omit material debts from loan applications may face forfeiture of property purchased with those funds.
The takeaway
Loan applications must disclose material debts, because omissions can lead to forfeiture of property even after repayment. Readers facing large financial decisions should keep accurate records of all obligations.
Further reading
For more on federal prosecutions of this kind, see Financial Crime.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Washington Times.
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