Latest news with #ConmenTravelers
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
British national pleads guilty to defrauding homeowners
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A British national accused of scamming homeowners in three states pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges Thursday in Providence as part of a plea agreement. Elijah Gavin, 29, faces a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison and a fine of up to $1.2 million. The U.S. Attorney's Office says Gavin was one of what the FBI calls Conmen Travelers, which are groups of Irish or U.K. nationals who swindle homeowners in a contracting scheme. Feds warn homeowners of 'traveling conman' scheme Court documents say Gavin claimed he was a contractor and used different aliases like 'Simon Kelly' and 'Timothy O'Reilly' to defraud homeowners in three states, including Rhode Island, where he targeted a 78-year-old widow. According to those documents, the woman paid Gavin more than $850,000 in separate checks for work he performed on the foundation and roof of her home in 2023. She later called police after her bank flagged a wire transfer Gavin had requested, saying his account 'dealt with Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies' and was not a construction company. Investigators used surveillance video of Gavin depositing money at a Providence ATM and a mugshot published by a U.K. news outlet to identify him. Upon seeing the booking photo, the victim reportedly pointed to the laptop and said, 'That's Tim!' Police took Gavin into custody in February. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland has had him listed as 'unlawfully at large' since 2022, when he went on the lam after being convicted of a number of offenses, including burglary, bodily harm and drug possession. Interview: Irish journalist on 'Traveling Conman Fraud' The plea agreement notes that Gavin may have the option to transfer his sentence abroad through the international prisoner transfer program. He is scheduled to be sentenced in September. Target 12 reached out to his attorney for a comment, but hasn't heard back. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
British national pleads guilty to defrauding homeowners
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A British national accused of scamming homeowners in three states pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges Thursday in Providence as part of a plea agreement. Elijah Gavin, 29, faces a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison and a fine of up to $1.2 million. The U.S. Attorney's Office says Gavin was one of what the FBI calls Conmen Travelers, which are groups of Irish or U.K. nationals who swindle homeowners in a contracting scheme. Feds warn homeowners of 'traveling conman' scheme Court documents say Gavin claimed he was a contractor and used different aliases like 'Simon Kelly' and 'Timothy O'Reilly' to defraud homeowners in three states, including Rhode Island, where he targeted a 78-year-old widow. According to those documents, the woman paid Gavin more than $850,000 in separate checks for work he performed on the foundation and roof of her home in 2023. She later called police after her bank flagged a wire transfer Gavin had requested, saying his account 'dealt with Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies' and was not a construction company. Investigators used surveillance video of Gavin depositing money at a Providence ATM and a mugshot published by a U.K. news outlet to identify him. Upon seeing the booking photo, the victim reportedly pointed to the laptop and said, 'That's Tim!' Police took Gavin into custody in February. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland has had him listed as 'unlawfully at large' since 2022, when he went on the lam after being convicted of a number of offenses, including burglary, bodily harm and drug possession. Interview: Irish journalist on 'Traveling Conman Fraud' The plea agreement notes that Gavin may have the option to transfer his sentence abroad through the international prisoner transfer program. He is scheduled to be sentenced in September. Target 12 reached out to his attorney for a comment, but hasn't heard back. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Yahoo
‘Conmen Travelers': British national indicted in construction fraud scheme across New England
A British national from Northern Ireland has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Rhode Island for participating in a multi-state construction and money laundering fraud scheme, Acting U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom said. Elijah Gavin a/k/a Timothy O'Reilly a/ka/ Elijah Thomas, 29, who is in the U.S. illegally, is reportedly with the so-called Traveling Conmen Fraud Group, or 'Conmen Travelers,' a group recognized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Terrorist Screen Center as a Transnational Organized Crime group. Gavin is charged with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering, Miron Bloom said in a statement Thursday. He has been in federal custody since his arrest in New Jersey on Jan. 29. Gavin and others allegedly defrauded property owners in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York of over $1 million dollars, Miron Bloom said. 'They did this by, among other things, misrepresenting to property owners who they are, the qualifications of their construction businesses, and construction needs or repairs required on properties,' the U.S. Attorney said in her statement. One of his victims is a 78-year-old Rhode Island woman who was fraudulently induced to pay over $850,000 for unnecessary foundation and basement repairs, including in checks written to Gavin and others, prosecutors said. Prosecutors allege that Gavin and others 'formed and used multiple construction businesses and falsely represented the business' status, experience, and quality of work; falsely represented their identities and skills to homeowners; and made false representations to property owners regarding the condition of their properties, work they would perform, and the machinery, materials, and equipment needed to perform work.' As part of the scheme, Gavin and others 'collected funds for work that was not needed, was incomplete, and in some instances when no work was performed,' prosecutors said. Gavin's associates billed property owners and collected funds for equipment that was not needed or used, prosecutors allege. The money was then deposited into bank accounts controlled by others, or transferred to other people who laundered the money. According to the FBI's Terrorist Screening Center, Conmen Travelers are groups of Irish or U.K. nationals who entered the United States on pleasure or tourist visas and overstayed their visits or, more commonly, entered the United States illegally. Once in the U.S., they go to different cities and states, soliciting construction work, prosecutors said. The members often quote a low price, and then demand much more money for the jobs, or convince the homeowner that their homes or business are in need of major repairs, prosecutors said. 'Conmen Travelers often hire day laborers; do not have work authorization documents or pull permits; and do low quality, unnecessary, or incomplete work, sometimes damaging homeowners' residences,' prosecutors said. Gavin is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment in U.S. District Court in Providence on March 10. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
