Former Advisor Sentenced for Stealing Elderly Client's Life Savings

Posted on June 27th, 2024 at 1:32 PM
Former Advisor Sentenced for Stealing Elderly Client's Life Savings

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

Eddy Ray Blizzard, a former financial advisor, has been sentenced to 3.5 years in federal prison for stealing nearly $1 million from an elderly client. Blizzard's fraudulent activities spanned several years and caused severe financial and emotional distress to his victim, identified as "R.M."

As reported by ThinkAdvisor, Blizzard began exploiting R.M. shortly after the client retired in 2003. Blizzard's deception included asking R.M. for signed blank checks, which he used for personal expenses rather than for R.M.'s benefit. Despite R.M.’s repeated attempts to withdraw funds and resolve the discrepancies, Blizzard continually assured him that the funds would be available soon.

In addition to manipulating R.M.'s funds, Blizzard falsely claimed he had left his bank employment to become an independent advisor, convincing R.M. to continue meeting him for financial consultations, which took place in Blizzard’s car rather than in an office. Throughout this period, R.M. believed his retirement funds were secure and that Blizzard was handling his mortgage payments.

According to ThinkAdvisor, the situation escalated in August 2019 when R.M. discovered he could not withdraw funds for a vacation. After receiving no response from Blizzard for a week, R.M. went to Blizzard's home. Blizzard responded with a voicemail, falsely claiming he had lost all of R.M.’s money, attempted suicide, and was hospitalized. Blizzard later admitted that he had fabricated the story and had never been hospitalized.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

Thank you so very much for your guidance, patience, and expertise.

Beth and Steve K.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

October 29, 2025
FINRA Foundation Study Reveals Alarming Investor Susceptibility to Fraudulent Offers

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation) has released preliminary findings from its upcoming report, Investors in the United States: A Report of the National Financial Capability Study.

October 28, 2025
UBS Seeks Court Order Against $1.4 Billion Florida Advisory Team Over Client Solicitation Allegations

UBS Wealth Management USA has filed a lawsuit and requested a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a $1.4 billion advisory team that recently departed to join Elevation Point, a West Palm Beach-based registered investment advisor launched just 15 months ago.

October 27, 2025
FINRA Panel Orders Charles Schwab to Pay Damages Over Structured Product Losses Sold by Vora Wealth Management

A three-person FINRA arbitration panel ordered Charles Schwab & Co. to pay $165,440 in compensatory damages to a former client of Vora Wealth Management, after losses tied to complex structured products.