By: Richard L. Smith
An Essex County financial advisor has been sentenced to seven years in New Jersey State Prison after being convicted of stealing more than $300,000 from an elderly woman who trusted him to help manage her finances.
According to a statement released by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, John Boston, 50, of Verona, was convicted in May 2026 of second-degree theft and second-degree theft by failure to make required disposition following a six-day trial in Essex County Superior Court.
State officials said Boston worked as a registered financial advisor when he agreed to manage the victim’s assets after she received an inheritance from her late brother.
In June 2017, the woman, who was 90 at the time, granted Boston durable financial power of attorney.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Boston took more than $300,000 through ATM withdrawals, bank transfers and other transactions, draining the woman’s accounts in less than two years, authorities said.
Prosecutors also said he failed to meet her financial obligations, neglected her care and later diverted her Social Security benefits for his personal use.
Authorities said Boston did not receive authorization from his employer to provide financial advisory services to the woman and failed to register her as a client as required by FINRA.
Boston resigned from the securities industry in 2019 and has not been registered in New Jersey since, according to state officials.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the sentence underscores the state’s effort to hold individuals accountable when positions of financial trust are exploited, particularly when elderly residents are targeted.