A Fox Island, Washington man faces serious charges after a federal grand jury indictment last month for alleged fraud against an elderly client. The 56-year-old former financial advisor, John S. Winslow, is accused of diverting more than $920,000 from a widow in her 70s, as detailed in a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Court documents show that Winslow's actions included multiple instances of wire and mail fraud, money laundering, and the filing of false tax returns. He is accused of transferring the victim's funds between accounts to avoid detection and using the money to purchase items such as an island home, a new hot tub, appliances, a car, and a diamond necklace. Additionally, he allegedly failed to report these funds to the IRS, resulting in an estimated tax loss of $254,000.
Investigators say Winslow's manipulation went as far as orchestrating phone calls where he coached the victim on what to tell banking officials, further concealing the true nature of the fraudulent transactions; one notable method was the purchase and resale of gold coins to mask the flow of funds. "Mr. Winslow took advantage of the victim’s trust to steal from her bank and brokerage accounts," as stated in the press release.
Winslow pleaded not guilty during his arraignment last Monday. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering, along with a potential three-year sentence for filing false tax returns. The investigation is being led by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and Winslow’s trial is scheduled for June 2 before U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright. It is important to note that the charges are allegations, and Winslow is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
