A man from Fox Island, Washington, identified as John S. Winslow, has been charged by a federal grand jury with multiple counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and falsifying tax returns. Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced the charges and stated that Winslow, a former financial advisor, allegedly stole more than $920,000 from a client, a widow in her 70s.
“Mr. Winslow took advantage of the victim’s trust to steal from her bank and brokerage accounts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “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.”
The indictment reveals that Winslow transferred money from the victim's brokerage accounts into her bank account and then into his own accounts, avoiding the firm’s surveillance systems. He reportedly used his position and visits to the victim's home to instruct her to transfer her funds, promising a higher interest rate on repayment.
To mask the origin of the funds, Winslow allegedly conducted multiple transactions, including purchasing and reselling gold coins. The stolen funds were not reported in Winslow's federal tax returns, leading to an estimated tax loss of about $254,000.
Winslow pled not guilty during his arraignment on March 31, 2025, and is set to stand trial before U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright on June 2, 2025. The charges carry potential sentences of up to 20 years for fraud and money laundering and up to 3 years for falsifying tax returns.
It is important to note that these charges are allegations, and Winslow is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yunah Chung.
