Yesterday, a federal jury in Maryland convicted Tom Goldstein, co-founder of SCOTUSblog, on 12 of 16 charges after a sensational six-week trial. The charges include one count of tax evasion, four counts of willful failure to timely pay taxes, four counts of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns, and three counts of making false statements on loan applications.

Goldstein, who previously argued over 40 cases before the Supreme Court, saw his legal and gambling life collide in a case that read like a crime thriller. The high-stakes poker player, who won approximately $50 million in 2016, including a staggering $22 million in Asia, hid this income from the IRS and mortgage lenders, leading to his indictment.

The trial featured testimony from celebrities like Tobey Maguire, who recounted hiring Goldstein to recover a substantial poker debt, and billionaires like Alec Gores, who lost millions to Goldstein in poker matches. The Department of Justice prosecutor, Sean Beaty, described Goldstein's actions as a "textbook tax-evasion scheme," though it ultimately unraveled due to a tip from a disgruntled gambler.

Defending himself, Goldstein admitted to negligence regarding his tax and financial affairs but denied any criminal intent. His attorney, Jonathan Kravis, argued these were merely "innocent mistakes" exacerbated by accounting oversights. However, the jury was unconvinced, swayed by evidence of secret poker ledgers, luxury expenditures, and hidden debts.

The verdict also casts a shadow on an already dramatic scenario that included a pre-trial profile by Jeffrey Toobin in the New York Times Magazine, which likely added pressure on Goldstein's legal defense.

Goldstein now faces up to five years in prison for the tax evasion count and up to 30 years for the false statements on loan applications. This case not only marks a significant fall from grace for the once-revered legal figure but also serves as a stern reminder of the consequences of intertwining personal vices with professional obligations.

As the legal community and the public alike await sentencing, this case transitions from the "But Storm Clouds Were Gathering" chapter to "Where Are They Now?" in what has been a dramatic and public downfall.