Irish Fugitive Elijah Gavin Sentenced to Four Years for $1 Million “Travelling Conman” Fraud in U.S.
An Irish man who fled prison in Northern Ireland and entered the United States illegally has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for his role in a sweeping home-repair fraud scheme that cheated victims out of nearly $1 million across multiple states.
Elijah Gavin, 29, admitted to carrying out the scam between October 2022 and January 2025, targeting homeowners—many elderly—in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. Prosecutors said he was part of a loosely connected network of Irish and UK nationals known to law enforcement as the “travelling conman fraud” group.
How the Scheme Worked
Gavin and his co-conspirators posed as legitimate construction contractors, offering foundation, roofing, and other home repairs at deceptively low initial prices. Once hired, they dramatically inflated costs, fabricated additional problems, and demanded escalating payments for supposed equipment and labor.
In one of the most extreme cases, a 78-year-old Rhode Island widow was defrauded out of $850,000. After a suspicious neighbor intervened, the crew disappeared, only to attempt another scam on the same woman later, investigators said.
Authorities linked Gavin to the fraud through bank records, ATM footage, phone data, and victim identifications. Several victims picked him out from a photo previously published in a Belfast newspaper when he was wanted for escaping custody.
Illegal Entry and Criminal Background
Gavin flew into the U.S. from Dublin in October 2022 while unlawfully at large from Magilligan Prison and facing charges related to attempting to defraud an elderly woman in Northern Ireland. His history includes convictions for assault, burglary, and theft, which had already resulted in his visa being revoked in 2023.
He used multiple aliases, including Timothy O’Reilly and Timothy Kelly, while forming shell construction companies to continue his fraud across state lines.
Emotional Apology and Troubled Past
In a letter to the court, Gavin expressed remorse, saying he had lied to himself about defrauding victims to support his family.
“I abused their trust and did the wrong thing to benefit myself. I am truly sorry,” he wrote. “I know this sounds funny, but I would like to thank the government for catching me so these victims can have some justice.”
Court documents detail Gavin’s difficult upbringing, including leaving school at age eight, fleeing an abusive father, and being recruited by several militant groups before turning away from them. His attorney sought leniency, citing deteriorating mental health and his attempt to provide a better life for his wife and children.
Sentence and Restitution
Gavin pleaded guilty on June 12, 2025, to:
Wire fraud conspiracy
Wire fraud
Money laundering
False statement to gain U.S. entry
A federal judge sentenced him to 48 months in prison, ordered him to forfeit $1 million, and pay over $1 million in restitution to victims.
He has been detained since his arrest in New Jersey on January 29, 2025.
Part of a Larger Transnational Fraud Network
According to a Homeland Security affidavit, the “travelling conman” groups—mainly Irish and British nationals—move across the U.S. soliciting construction work, often overstaying visas or entering illegally. The FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center categorizes the operation as a transnational organized crime group, though not centrally coordinated.
Victims were often intimidated into paying inflated costs for unfinished or unnecessary work, investigators said.
