Wall Street swindler who owes $59M in NY back taxes lives it up in Calif. — where he’s praised by Gavin Newsom

NY Post ^ | 10/20/26 | James Franey

[Libloather]

A convicted Wall Street swindler who was named New York’s No. 1 tax deadbeat a decade ago has been living it up in California, running a charity praised by Gov. Gavin Newsom and hawking erectile dysfunction pills — all while dodging a tax bill that has soared to $59.1 million, The Post has learned.

Daniel Gordon — an ex-Merrill Lynch trader who pleaded guilty in 2003 to bilking the bank out of $43 million in a brazen wire fraud scheme — lives with his wife, Kate, in a 10,495-square-foot spread near Palm Springs, Calif. that’s worth more than $5 million, state tax records show.

The sprawling compound in Rancho Mirage — a posh desert enclave whose residents have included Frank Sinatra, Bill Gates and President Gerald Ford — boasts a sunken tennis court, a three-hole putting green and a resort-style pool with cascading waterfalls and a swim-up bar, according to a realtor listing.

Meanwhile, 50-year-old Gordon has reinvented himself as a Golden State philanthropist. He operates a prison reform charity called Gordon Philanthropies, doing TV interviews and photo-ops with LAPD and the California Department of Corrections and plastering his website with photos of him smiling at ribbon-cuttings and charitable events.

In November 2024, Gordon even got a gushing letter of praise from Gov. Newsom, who addressed the letter to “Daniel” and added a large, handwritten “Thank you!” in addition to his signature at the bottom. The missive is proudly displayed on his charity’s Facebook page.

“Thank you again for your generous contributions,” Newsom wrote. “I look forward to your continued partnership.”

Gordon and Newsom’s office did not respond to requests for comment. California prison officials ignored The Post’s questions about Gordon’s criminal past and towering tax tab, pointing instead to rules that let them take private gifts.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; History; Local News
KEYWORDS: california; newsom; swindler; taxes

[Libloather]

All of this comes after New York tax enforcers singled out Gordon in 2016 as the state’s biggest tax dodger on its “Top 100” list with $25.1 million in outstanding warrants — and pledging to The Post that they would hunt him down and make him pay.

[lgjhn23]

Grusome and this jerk? “birds of a feather”. ‘Nough said.

[AndyJackson]

The sprawling compound in Rancho Mirage — a posh desert enclave whose residents have included Frank Sinatra, Bill Gates and President Gerald Ford

Now that is an advertisement for an exclusive community right there. I am sure every reader here would want to buy in. Only thing missing is Obama and I am surprised they haven't given him a compound there just to increase the glitter bedazzling the name of this high end development - on barren land in the desert.

[chopperk]

He must have donated money to gavin’s campaign.

[chopperk]

He must have donated money to gavin’s campaign.

[dfwgator]

I thought Gerald Ford moved to Springfield.

[bray]

Bet that charity has lots of “overhead”.

[Organic Panic]

Family friends lived in Rancho Mirage when I was a kid. Too hot for my blood.

Anyone complaining about water for data centers (a myth) needs to visit there and observe the golf courses.

[Signalman]

Daniel Gordon — an ex-Merrill Lynch trader who pleaded guilty in 2003 to bilking the bank out of $43 million in a brazen wire fraud scheme — lives with his wife, Kate, in a 10,495-square-foot spread near Palm Springs, Calif. that’s worth more than $5 million, state tax records show.

Forgive me for asking this question...but why isn't this POS behind bars?

[DPMD]

Easy to conclude where some of this dirty money went.

[chickenlips]

Or keeps Gavin in ED pills.