El Paso Standard

An Irish national, John O’Brien, has been detained on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy following a federal investigation into an alleged home repair fraud scheme targeting homeowners in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. O'Brien was initially arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 28 for immigration violations.

The allegations detail a scheme in which O'Brien and possibly others solicited homeowners for unnecessary repairs under false pretenses. O'Brien reportedly misrepresented the necessity and scope of these repairs, as well as the credibility of his business, Traditional Masonry & Construction.

Authorities were alerted to the scheme when an 83-year-old Warwick resident, referred to in court documents as Victim 1, reported being defrauded by O'Brien. Victim 1 was approached by O'Brien, who claimed to have noticed structural damage while working in the area. The homeowner was persuaded to pay $9,500 upfront but was later confronted with additional claims of damage and a cost revision of $80,000. A subsequent inspection revealed no evidence of damage requiring such repairs.

Court documents suggest that there are other victims with similar stories, involving unsolicited proposals for minor repairs that escalated into purportedly urgent major fixes. The scheme has reportedly defrauded homeowners of over $1,000,000.

Upon his arrest, investigators found hundreds of promotional flyers for Traditional Masonry & Construction in O'Brien's vehicle, along with binders containing contracts and invoices dated between April 2024 and March 2025. The contracts in these documents totaled nearly $2 million.

The method attributed to O'Brien is similar to a pattern of fraud termed 'Traveling Conman Fraud,' which involves conmen, often Irish or UK nationals, entering the U.S. on tourist visas or unlawfully, engaging in itinerant scheming in various locations. The Federal Bureau of Investigation highlights that these offenders frequently offer underpriced initial work, later inflate costs under false pretenses of discovering additional damage, and perform substandard work.

A federal criminal complaint is an allegation, and O'Brien is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case was developed by ICE Homeland Security Investigations, alongside local law enforcement in Warwick and East Providence.

Authorities advise homeowners to remain wary of unsolicited repair offers, verifying contractor credentials, and ensuring necessary permits are in place prior to authorizing work. Homeowners are also encouraged to seek multiple evaluations to avoid falling victim to fraud schemes.

Those suspecting they may be victims of the 'Traveling Conman Fraud' are encouraged to report their experiences to ICE HSI using available contact methods.