Financial advisor indicted for stealing $920K from widow’s life savings to fund lavish lifestyle

A financial advisor from Fox Island was indicted last month after he allegedly stole more than $920,000 in life savings and inheritance from a former client of his—a widow in her 70s.

According to the indictment, the suspect, John Winslow, siphoned the money from the widow’s account from a financial services firm, in order to avoid the firm’s surveillance system, to an account she controlled in a separate bank. From there, he moved her money to an account he controlled through several transactions. Winslow, 56, would visit the victim’s home and instruct her on what to tell the bank in order to pull out her money.

He falsely claimed to the victim that if she transferred money to him, he would repay her at a higher interest rate than what she was getting from her banks.

Winslow used the funds to ‘upgrade his lifestyle’

“Mr. Winslow took advantage of the victim’s trust to steal from her bank and brokerage accounts,” Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller said. “He used the victim’s funds to upgrade his lifestyle—buying an island home, installing a hot tub and new appliances, and purchasing a new car and a diamond necklace.”

Winslow allegedly failed to report the funds that he stole from the victim on his federal tax returns, resulting in a tax loss of $254,000.

Winslow was indicted on four counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, four counts of money laundering, and four counts of making and subscribing a false tax return. He entered a “not guilty” plea on March 31, with his trial scheduled for June 2.

Internal Revenue Service is continuing its investigation.

Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.