Two brothers from Ireland were sentenced to 18 months in prison for running a fraudulent contractor scheme that defrauded an elderly Shoreline homeowner out of $435,000, the Department of Justice announced Monday.
Patrick McDonagh, 35, and Matthew McDonagh, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in September.
U.S. District Judge John H. Chun, who handed down the sentences, described their actions as “terrible and serious criminal conduct.”
The brothers approached the Shoreline victim in January 2024, claiming they noticed a hole in his roof and offered to fix it.
Over the next few days, they pressured the homeowner to write checks totaling tens of thousands of dollars, citing fake problems such as a cracked foundation.
They even demanded $200,000 to be wired for supposed building supplies.
Investigators later determined that no significant repairs were necessary, and the “work” the men completed—such as digging trenches and pouring concrete—was largely superficial.
Quick action by a Shoreline detective and the King County Prosecutor’s Office helped recover the wired funds.
The FBI linked the McDonagh brothers to similar scams in Oregon and Illinois.
Patrick McDonagh falsely claimed ties to a legitimate construction company in Oregon and collected nearly $50,000 for incomplete foundation work.
Matthew McDonagh performed poor and damaging repairs in Illinois after charging $75,000 for driveway and retaining wall work.
In total, the brothers were ordered to pay restitution, including $235,000 to the Shoreline victim, $50,000 to Oregon victims, $75,000 to an Illinois homeowner, and over $673,000 to a Bellevue, Washington, victim.
The Shoreline victim told the court, “They were aggressive, relentless in their pursuit of more and more money. They preyed on my trust and my faith…. I feel ashamed, frustrated, and betrayed.”
The FBI reminds homeowners to be cautious of unsolicited contractors using high-pressure tactics.
Residents should verify licenses through the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries and check for complaints via the Better Business Bureau or Federal Trade Commission.
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