Elijah Gavin, on the run since 2022, faces US charges for allegedly defrauding an elderly woman of $850k.
Elijah Gavin went missing in 2022. This happened during a temporary release from prison. Now, he is in the US and will face a grand jury. The charges include wire fraud and money laundering. He is linked to a group called Traveling Conmen Fraud Group. The FBI considers this group a Transnational Organised Crime group.
The FBI says this group targets people. They often solicit construction work illegally. They then demand more money or invent repairs.
Gavin was arrested on January 29. He and others allegedly defrauded homeowners of over $1 million. One victim was a 78-year-old woman. She paid $850,000 for unnecessary repairs. The woman recognized Gavin from a photo. The photo was from a Belfast Newsletter article. It was published after his prison escape.
The money went into accounts controlled by Gavin. It was then transferred to others who laundered it. Investigators used ATM footage that links Gavin to an account. He flew to the US from Dublin in October 2022. He was on temporary release while facing other charges. Those charges involved attempting to trick an older woman.
A special agent described the scheme in an affidavit. It says Gavin and others defrauded property owners in several states. They induced owners into hiring them for unneeded repairs. The agent said this scheme is increasingly common. It involves misrepresenting qualifications and the need for work.
They defrauded people of over $900,000 between March 2023 and May 2024. The US Attorney’s Office stated Gavin remains in federal custody. His arraignment is set for March 10, 2025. An indictment is just an accusation, though. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Assistant US Attorneys are prosecuting the case. Homeland Security, Rhode Island State Police, and U.S. Diplomatic Security Service are investigating.