Irish national sentenced to 56 months in Rhode Island home repair fraud scheme

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A 28-year-old Irish national has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for his role in a widespread home repair fraud scheme that targeted homeowners across Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

John O’Brien pleaded guilty to wire fraud after federal investigators linked him to a multi-state operation that defrauded more than 100 victims of roughly $1.5 million. 

Prosecutors said the scheme relied on deceptive, door-to-door tactics, with O’Brien and others approaching homeowners and claiming their properties had urgent structural issues. Victims were then pressured into paying for repairs that were unnecessary, overpriced, or never completed. 

Authorities described the operation as part of a broader “traveling conman” pattern, in which crews move between states offering construction services under false pretenses. 

Investigators said the group used a range of tactics to avoid detection, including false business information and misleading claims about construction expertise. The operation spanned multiple communities and often targeted older or more vulnerable residents.

Court records show O’Brien admitted guilt in December 2025.

Federal authorities said efforts remain ongoing to identify and prosecute others connected to the scheme.