Home Economy Economic Activity British national sentenced 4 years for role in construction scheme

British national sentenced 4 years for role in construction scheme

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PBN Staff

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11/19/2025

2ev1P5ui-lUYGee94-7RnotPu0-4cTk5vLT-co4oOI0M-dKKfjIni-9zuRNzNb-DistrictCourt-1 — A BRITISH NATIONAL from Northern Ireland has been sentenced to four years in prison for he participated in multistate construction and money laundering scheme and for provided false information to gain entry into the United States, Acting U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island Sara M. Bloom announced Tuesday. / COURTESY U.S. DISTRICT COURT

PROVIDENCE – A British national from Northern Ireland has been sentenced to four years in prison after admitting that he participated in a multistate construction and money laundering scheme and provided false information to gain entry into the United States, Acting U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island Sara M. Bloom announced Tuesday. U.S. District Court Judge

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PROVIDENCE – A British national from Northern Ireland has been sentenced to four years in prison after admitting that he participated in a multistate construction and money laundering scheme and provided false information to gain entry into the United States, Acting U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island Sara M. Bloom announced Tuesday. U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy sentenced Elijah Gavin, 29, who also went by Timothy O’Reilly and Elijah Thomas, to 48 months imprisonment, forfeiture of $4,885.57, a forfeiture money judgment of $1,000,000, a restitution order of $1,109,500, and $300 in special assessments in one case, and one day imprisonment and a $100 special assessment in the other case, to run concurrently. Gavin pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering on June 13. Gavin and his co-conspirators were accused of defrauding property owners in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York of more than $1 million, including a 78-year-old Rhode Island woman who paid more than $850,000 for unnecessary foundation and basement repairs. According to court documents, Gavin, who was in the U.S. illegally, admitted that his co-conspirators allegedly went to different cities and states soliciting construction work. Bloom says they often quoted a low price and then, after further inspection, allegedly either demanded more money or persuaded the homeowner that their homes or businesses needed major repairs. The group, recognized by the FBI’s Terrorist Screen Center as a transnational organized crime croup called the “Common Travelers,” would hire day laborers who did not have work authorization documents or pull permits. They would also perform low-quality, unnecessary or incomplete work, sometimes damaging homeowners’ residences. The group formed and used multiple construction businesses and falsely represented the business’s status, experience and quality of work. They also falsely represented their identities and skills to homeowners and made false representations to property owners regarding their properties’ condition, work they would perform, and the needed machinery, materials and equipment for work. Bloom previously testified that the money was collected for unfinished jobs or work that wasn’t included, and property owners paid for equipment that was never used on the site, according to court documents. Funds that the conspiracy allegedly collected were deposited into bank accounts controlled by co-conspirators or transferred to other individuals who laundered the fraudulently obtained monies.