Elijah Gavin, also known as Timothy O’Reilly, has been arrested for allegedly defrauding homeowners of over $1 million in a multi-state home repair and money laundering scheme.
Gavin, originally from Ireland, had been on the run from Northern Ireland when he entered the U.S. illegally in October 2022. He was already facing charges for attempting to scam an elderly woman out of £40,000 at the time.
Scam Targeting Elderly Homeowners
Authorities say Gavin was part of a criminal gang that operated in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. The group allegedly targeted elderly homeowners by:
Offering unnecessary home repairs and demanding large deposits.
Escalating costs for supposed specialized equipment.
Intimidating victims into paying for incomplete or shoddy work.
Running fake refund scams to trick victims into handing over even more money.
One 78-year-old victim lost $850,000 after being pressured into unnecessary foundation repairs. Another victim, of Irish heritage, was suspicious of Gavin’s false claim of being Australian and later identified him to investigators.
FBI Recognizes Group as a Transnational Crime Ring
According to a Homeland Security affidavit, Gavin’s gang is linked to a larger network known as the “Traveling Conman Fraud Group”, which the FBI considers a transnational organized crime group.
Authorities say these groups often:
Enter on tourist visas or illegally.
Travel from state to state, preying on vulnerable homeowners.
Use intimidation and deception to extort large sums of money.
Tracked Through ATM Footage & Hotel Records
Investigators linked Gavin to the scam through:
Hotel records and phone data matching locations where victims were targeted.
ATM footage showing Gavin withdrawing money from a fraudulent bank account opened with his UK passport.
Arrest & Federal Charges
Gavin was arrested in New Jersey on January 29, 2025, and has been held in federal custody since. He is expected to appear in Rhode Island court next week to face fraud and money laundering charges.
Authorities warn that these scams are widespread and urge homeowners to verify contractors before making payments.