ERO New York City arrests Irish couple with possible links to Traveling Conmen Fraud Group

NEW YORK - Enforcement and Removal Operations New York City arrested an Irish couple July 18 with possible links to the Traveling Conmen Fraud Group. The Irish couple is wanted for 19 counts of money laundering in the United Kingdom.

Authorities in the UK are seeking custody of the Irish couple on fraud charges that defrauded a string of victims of more than £3 million.

"This is a case where ERO intelligence worked rapidly and cooperatively with our local and federal law enforcement partners to catch international felons," said ERO New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo. "We would like to thank the Ulster County Sheriff's Office in Kingston, New York, for their assistance."

On Feb. 15, 2023, the husband lawfully entered the United States but violated the terms of his admission. The South Bound Brook Borough Police Department in New Jersey arrested the Irish citizen May 14, 2023, and charged him with hindering-obstructing police. On Aug. 8, 2023, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department in Indiana arrested the Irish national and charged him with battery.

The wife lawfully entered the United States Aug. 11, 2023, but violated the terms of her admission. The Ulster County Sheriff's Office in Kingston arrested her July 17 and charged her with Class E felony possession of stolen property.

ERO New York City's Newburgh officers arrested the couple July 18. They remain in ERO custody pending removal proceedings.

Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings receive their legal due process from federal immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by the Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Executive Office for Immigration Review is an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice and is separate from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case. ICE officers carry out the removal decisions made by the federal immigration judges.

As one of ICE's three operational directorates, ERO is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO's mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency's detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO's workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.

Members of the public can report crime and suspicious activity by calling 866-347-2423 or completing the online tip form.

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