Brothers Charged after FBI Expose $435k Fraud
Two brothers have been indicted in a US court for conspiracy to commit wire fraud following an FBI investigation.
Patrick McDonagh and Matthew McDonagh, believed to be from Irvinestown in County Fermanagh, are accused of defrauding a Shoreline, Washington, pensioner out of $435,000 (£335,000).
Men Detained After Allegedly Scamming Elderly Homeowners
US Customs and Border Protection apprehended the men in mid-June and are currently detained at an immigration center.
"The criminal complaint alleges that the duo was part of a group that traveled across the country, scamming homeowners particularly the elderly by falsely claiming their homes required urgent repairs," stated the US Attorney’s Office.
Brothers charged after FBI uncovers $435k fraud https://t.co/NPTts9f4Kp
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Bullied the victim
- The men allegedly first approached the victim in January 2024, claiming they were working in the neighborhood and had noticed a hole in the pensioner’s roof.
- According to the complaint, they offered to fix the hole and remove moss from the roof.
- Over several days, they reportedly pressured the homeowner into writing checks for their services.
- The men also allegedly claimed the property's foundation was cracked and said they would repair it with a titanium rod system.
Deceptive repair practices and inflated charges
- Fake repairs: No actual roof damage or foundation issues, yet they dug trenches for show.
- Pressure tactics: Daily demands for more checks from the victim.
- Phony fees: Demanded extra money for made-up "taxes."
- Wire transfer scam: Instructed the victim to send a large sum ($200,000) for "building supplies" (far exceeding any work done).
- Total theft: The brothers stole $435,000 from the victim.
Brothers Charged with Preying on the Elderly
"This type of fraud targeting our elderly neighbors is heartbreaking," stated US Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. "Pretending to help while aiming to steal from the victim’s hard-earned retirement funds is a special kind of cruelty."
An FBI investigation linked the brothers to contractor fraud complaints in Washington County, Oregon, and Spokane, Washington, totaling about $50,000 (£38,500). In these cases, they allegedly presented fake photos of roof holes, claimed foundation issues, or posed as reputable local businesses.
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