The case of Tom Goldstein remains unresolved, while the prosecution investigating him for alleged tax evasion related to undeclared poker winnings continues to search for evidence. One of the most compelling findings in the case was made this week, when the prosecutor presented what he called Goldstein’s “secret poker book.” It contains multiple details about his rivals and winnings.
Recently, it was revealed that Goldstein had obtained a large portion of his undeclared winnings from heads-up matches against magnate Alec Gores and two Asian players named “Tango” and “Chairman.” Apparently, the discovery of this alleged secret book would provide information about other involved parties. It seems Goldstein had never shared the book with his accountant or his lawyers.
The name that resonates most in the poker world is Dan “Jungleman” Cates , recognized by many as the best heads-up player in the world. An entry from December 2016 in Goldstein’s poker account book indicates that he sent US$750,000 to Jungleman, apparently to cover a loss from a poker game. Additionally, a note in the book indicates that the transaction is related to the “last trip to Manila.”
Dan Cates Appears In The Records Of Tom Goldstein’s “Secret Poker Book”
The book also contains an entry from December 2016 indicating that he paid US$60,000 to Tony Gregg , along with a note that says “Think about date for heads-up.” Gregg, like Jungleman, is a professional poker player with over US$12 million in recorded live cashes.
Similarly, another entry from December 2016 shows that Goldstein paid a billionaire tech investor named Chamath Palihapitiya the amount of US$176,000 for a heads-up match with no recorded date. There, the results of his major battles against Gores are also found, which brought him his largest winnings to date, for US$26.4 million.
Undoubtedly, the prosecution and the judge will have a lot of work to do with this new piece of evidence in hand, which could complicate the lawyer’s situation if it proves that his reported winnings have been manipulated.
