An Irish national living unlawfully in the United States was sentenced on Apr. 7 in federal court in Rhode Island for his role in a scheme to defraud homeowners in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, according to United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
John O’Brien, age 28, received a sentence of 56 months in federal prison from U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., and is expected to be deported after serving his sentence. O’Brien pleaded guilty to wire fraud on December 11, 2025.
United States Attorney Calenda said, “John O’Brien’s scheme was not just fraudulent, it was predatory. He deliberately targeted homeowners and exploited their trust for personal and financial gain.” Calenda added that the case “reflects a broader pattern of individuals known as ‘Traveling Conmen’ who cross state lines for the purpose of defrauding victims.”
Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming said, “O’Brien preyed on unsuspecting homeowners in Rhode Island and Massachusetts by posing as a skilled tradesman and contractor—someone they could trust. Instead, this conman fleeced homeowners of upwards of $1 million while inflicting substantial damage to their homes… After today’s sentence, O’Brien will serve serious federal prison time and be subsequently deported.”
Colonel Michael Lima of the Warwick Police Department stated that the outcome is “a direct result of the exceptional work of our detectives and the strong partnerships we’ve built with our local, state, and federal law enforcement colleagues.” Lima credited investigators’ persistence with ensuring “that a sophisticated and predatory scheme was thoroughly investigated and brought to justice.”
Court documents show that O’Brien induced homeowners to pay for unnecessary repairs or work that was never completed by making false claims about structural problems or overstating repair needs under company names such as Traditional Masonry & Construction. In one instance reported by an elderly Warwick resident identified as Victim 1, O’Brien collected $9,500 for foundation repairs before seeking an additional $80,000 based on further alleged damage; subsequent inspection found no need for such extensive repairs.
O’Brien admitted at his plea hearing to defrauding property owners out of more than $1.5 million between July 2021 and March 2025.
Authorities say schemes like this are becoming more common nationwide among groups referred to as Traveling Conmen Fraud Groups—transnational organizations typically involving Irish or U.K nationals who overstay visas or enter illegally.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Taylor A. Dean and Sandra R. Hebert following investigation by Homeland Security Investigations along with Warwick and East Providence Police Departments.
This prosecution falls under the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159 aimed at eliminating criminal cartels and transnational crime organizations operating within the United States.
