Construction and Elder Fraud Scheme Uncovered in Massachusetts
A civil forfeiture action has been filed against Michael McInerney and Crystel O’Reilly, Irish nationals who were not legally present in the United States, for allegedly conducting a construction and elder fraud scheme in Massachusetts.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, McInerney and O’Reilly were involved in a transnational organized crime group that conducted construction, paving, and roofing fraud schemes in the United States. The scheme generally involved foreign nationals who posed as licensed contractors to induce homeowners, often elderly, to allow them to work on their homes.
Law enforcement seized $70,000 in United States currency and two Rolex watches from McInerney and O’Reilly during a traffic stop on January 20, 2024. The cash was found hidden in two white socks, while the watches were discovered in a white trash bag. The total value of the seized property is approximately $100,000.
Investigators obtained financial records and interviewed elderly homeowners in Somerville and Cambridge, Massachusetts, who had written checks to McInerney for construction work. One homeowner, a 75-year-old man, withdrew money from his retirement account to pay for the work but claimed that the work was not completed and that he could not get in touch with the company after he paid them $199,500.
Another homeowner, a 78-year-old man, reported being charged $80,000 for work that should have cost no more than $30,000. A homeowner in Washington, D.C., obtained a default judgment against McInerney and an associate named Terrence Connors after writing checks totaling $60,000 to McInerney in August 2023.
McInerney and O’Reilly are accused of buying jewelry and watches with the fraud proceeds to evade currency reporting requirements. The United States must prove, by a standard of preponderance of the evidence, that the property is subject to forfeiture.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Annapurna Balakrishna of the Asset Recovery Unit.
The Quincy Police Department provided valuable assistance in the investigation.
The defendant/respondent REAL full name or legal entity name is Michael McInerney and Crystel O’Reilly.
Exact criminal charges include construction and elder fraud.
City and state are Boston, Massachusetts.
Exact date with month/day/year is January 20, 2024.
Sentence or outcome is not specified.
Dollar amounts include $70,000 in United States currency and $100,000 in total value of seized property.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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