A Fox Island man has been indicted on multiple fraud charges, including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering. According to Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller, John S. Winslow, age 56, is accused of stealing over $920,000 from an elderly client while working as a financial advisor at a national firm.
“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 details how Winslow allegedly shifted funds from the victim’s brokerage accounts to her bank accounts outside the firm, then transferred the money to his own accounts. By doing so, he presumably hoped to conceal his activities from the firm. To convince the victim to reroute money to him, Winslow is reported to have promised higher interest rates than her banks offered.
Winslow supposedly tried to cover his actions through multiple steps, such as using the victim’s money to purchase gold coins online, then selling them locally for depositing the proceeds into his accounts. He allegedly avoided reporting the misappropriated funds on his tax returns, causing a tax loss of approximately $254,000.
Appearing in court, Winslow pleaded 'not guilty' on March 31, 2025. His trial, presided by U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright, is set for June 2, 2025.
The accusations against Winslow could lead to sentences of up to 20 years for wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering. The false tax return charges carry penalties of up to three years.
The investigation is handled by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorney Yunah Chung. Legal principles maintain that all individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty.