Crime & Safety
Irish Con Man Sentenced to 4 Years, 8 Months For Wire Fraud: Feds
The Irish national was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island.
PROVIDENCE, RI — An Irish con man was sentenced to four years and eight months in federal prison for wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
John O'Brien, 28, had pleaded guilty in December to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a media release.
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"He is expected to be deported following the completion of his sentence," the release said.
O'Brien defrauded homeowners in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, according to the release.
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"John O’Brien’s scheme was not just fraudulent, it was predatory," U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda said in the release.
"He deliberately targeted homeowners and exploited their trust for personal and financial gain,” Calenda said.
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“This case reflects a broader pattern of individuals known as ‘Traveling Conmen’ who cross state lines for the purpose of defrauding victims, he said. "Individuals who engage in this kind of calculated deception should expect to be aggressively investigated and prosecuted in federal court. This office will continue to prioritize protecting individuals from this type of premeditated scheme."
O’Brien worked with others to trick homeowners into paying for repairs that were unnecessary and often not completed, according to the release.
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"In one case, O’Brien, an illegal immigrant from Ireland, used his origin to build rapport with an elderly veteran in Warwick, Rhode Island over their shared Irish heritage only to extort him for tens of thousands of dollars in unnecessary home repairs,” Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming said in the release.
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