By Lana Bellamy,
Staff Writer
The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office recently announced the arrest of Kathleen McCarthy, who faces charges for stealing a rental car. McCarthy, along with her husband Oliver Boswell, has been sought by London police since 2018 for allegedly defrauding victims of over £3 million.
On July 17, deputies in Ulster encountered the 35-year-old McCarthy driving a Ford F-150 truck reported stolen from Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Following her arrest for possession of stolen property, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations informed local authorities that both McCarthy and Boswell, 36, were wanted by British police and suspected of being involved with a transnational crime organization known as the Traveling Conmen Fraud Group. They are accused of defrauding victims of nearly $4 million.
After her arrest, federal authorities collaborated with local law enforcement to locate Boswell and identify other potential members of the criminal organization in the area. Both McCarthy and Boswell were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on July 18.
“This case highlights the effective collaboration between ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and local and federal law enforcement to apprehend international criminals,” stated Kenneth Genalo, ERO New York City Field Office Director. “We appreciate the support from the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office.”
British law enforcement had issued a public appeal for assistance in capturing McCarthy and Boswell in 2018 after they went on the run following their conviction for fraud, alongside nine other group members. The couple is believed to have employed various deceptive tactics, including impersonating a judge, engaging in rogue trading fraud, and convincing victims to pay for unnecessary home repairs.
Reports indicate that McCarthy skipped a court appearance and was subsequently convicted of defrauding 14 victims out of $280,500 across 11 counties over a year-long crime spree between December 2013 and December 2014. Boswell reportedly defrauded four victims of $30,595 and pleaded guilty to money laundering charges but did not attend his sentencing hearing.
Federal records show that Boswell entered the U.S. legally on February 15, 2023, but later violated his admission terms. He was arrested in South Bound Brook, N.J., on charges of hindering police. Boswell was arrested again on August 8, 2023, in Indianapolis for battery. McCarthy entered the U.S. legally a few days later on August 11, 2023.
It remains unclear how the couple managed to enter the U.S. despite being wanted in the U.K. They are currently in ICE custody, awaiting removal proceedings.