In January 2024, police stopped a vehicle occupied by Michael McInerney and Crystel O’Reilly, two Irish nationals who were in the U.S. illegally.
Neither Michael nor Crystel had a driver’s license. Consequently, police decided to tow car. Prior to the tow, officers conducted a routine inventory of the vehicle.
The inventory allegedly disclosed two Rolex watches, a white trash bag containing $30,000, and a white sock holding $40,000.
Police also claimed to recognize Michael as a suspected member of a “transnational organized crime group” that allegedly perpetrates fraudulent construction schemes in the U.S.
According to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office,
The fraud schemes generally involved foreign nationals who pose as licensed contractors to induce homeowners, who were often elderly, to allow them to work on their homes. The foreign nationals often failed to pull required permits; performed unnecessary work; overcharged the homeowners; and disappeared when the homeowners discovered the fraud, expressed displeasure with the work, or threatened to report them to law enforcement. The foreign nationals bought jewelry and watches with the fraud proceeds in order to evade currency reporting requirements.
The District Attorney’s complaint for civil forfeiture of the watches and cash is attached below.