Maryland Woman Found Guilty of Financial Exploitation of Elderly Victim
A federal jury convicted Linda Laird for her role in a scheme to steal Social Security benefits and bank funds from her 81-year-old grandmother.
By AI ReporterWritten Aug 21, 2026, 1:34 p.m. ET
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WASHINGTON – Linda Laird, 62, of Cordova, Maryland, was found guilty by a federal jury on August 21, 2026, in connection with a scheme to abuse her position as co-guardian and co-conservator of an 81-year-old vulnerable adult, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. The jury deliberated approximately four hours following a three-day trial before convicting Laird of conspiracy to commit Social Security fraud and theft of public money; conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult and elderly person; and fraud in the first degree against a senior citizen. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 17, 2026, before U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss.
According to court documents, in November 2017, Laird, her late father James Blizzard, and her late mother Joyce Blizzard were appointed by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia as co-guardians and co-conservators of Laird’s grandmother, who suffered from severe cognitive impairments. After Joyce Blizzard passed away in June 2018, Laird and James Blizzard continued in those roles. Instead of applying the grandmother’s money toward her support, care, and treatment, Laird and Blizzard redirected Social Security benefits and checking account funds to their personal accounts. In total, they stole more than $21,000 in Social Security benefits and obtained over $100,000 from the vulnerable adult’s bank accounts, which Laird spent on jewelry, designer shoes, and expensive football tickets.
The case was investigated by the D.C. Office of the Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the U.S. Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, and the Investigations and Intelligence Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Facci and David Deitch of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section.
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