Two brothers, Patrick and Matthew McDonagh, have been charged in a US court with conspiracy to commit wire fraud following an FBI investigation.
The siblings, believed to be from Irvinestown in County Fermanagh, are accused of defrauding a pensioner in Shoreline, Washington, out of $435,000 (£335,000). They were arrested by US Customs and Border Protection in mid-June and are currently held in an immigration detention center.
According to the criminal complaint, the brothers were part of a group traveling the country to scam homeowners, particularly the elderly, by falsely claiming that urgent repairs were needed. They allegedly approached the victim in January 2024, asserting they had noticed a hole in the pensioner’s roof.
The brothers offered to repair the supposed damage and remove moss from the roof. Over several days, they pressured the homeowner into writing checks for their services. They also claimed the property’s foundation was cracked and proposed using a titanium rod system for repairs.
Despite there being no actual damage, the brothers dug trenches and poured concrete to create the illusion of work done, continuously pressuring the victim for more payments. They even demanded an additional $20,000 (£15,400) for “taxes.”
Ultimately, they coerced the victim into wiring $200,000 (£154,000) to a third party for building supplies, far exceeding the value of any alleged work completed. In total, the brothers are accused of stealing $435,000 from the victim.
“This type of fraud on our elderly neighbors is heartbreaking,” said US Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “To pose as someone trying to help while intending to steal from the victim’s retirement funds is a special kind of cruelty.”
The FBI’s investigation linked the McDonagh brothers to contractor fraud complaints in Washington County, Oregon, and Spokane, Washington, amounting to around $50,000 (£38,500). In these instances, they reportedly used fake photos of damaged roofs and posed as reputable local businesses.
“Sadly, seniors are often attractive targets for fraudsters seeking to exploit a lifetime of savings, and these scammers are adept at deception,” noted Richard A. Collodi from the FBI Seattle field office.
The brothers appeared in a Seattle court on July 12, where prosecutors requested their detention, citing flight risk and lack of legal status in the US. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison.