WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) — Federal authorities are investigating an Irish national who they say may be linked to a multistate fraud operation that duped customers through his masonry and construction company, according to the Warwick Police Department. After a joint investigation between the U.S. D epartment of Homeland Security and Warwick Police, investigators arrested 27-year-old John O'Brien last Friday, police said. A database shows O'Brien is currently being held at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility on an ICE detainer. Warwick Police Chief Bradford Connor said O'Brien owns Traditional Masonry and Construction and that police had received reports that the company would damage the foundation of people's homes, only to offer expensive services to fix the problem. U.S. Air Force veteran Don Fife told Target 12 that early last week O'Brien first approached him while his company was working on a neighbor's home. His neighbors told Target 12 they gave O'Brien a $7,000 deposit to work on the front and back of their home. He said O'Brien offered to fix the cracking foundation of his home with no money down, until a few days later when he asked for thousands of dollars. "I wrote a check for $995, and then the next day there was more damage. And now he said ... this is a $95,000 project," said Fife. They eventually settled on an $80,000 job, but Fife said he still felt uneasy. Warwick Police and Homeland Security soon descended on the neighborhood to arrest O'Brien. Fife said he watched as some of his employees walked to the back of his yard, took off their sweatshirts, left their tools and jumped his back fence to escape from police. "They went on the tree stump and jumped over the fence and they got away," he said. Fife says he is frustrated that someone would take advantage of senior citizens, who now fear they are out thousands of dollars and left with a mess in their yard. Fife's front and back yard has a trench dug around his home. "I'm 83 and all the stress is ridiculous," he said. Connor said police are not looking for the workers who fled, but are looking into if anyone else is connected with the fraud-operation. Sarah Guernelli (sguernelli@wpri.com) is the consumer investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media:                     Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW ...read more read less