The owner of the Quinn Group Insurance Agency, Inc., of 223 Main St., Arlington, Patrick J Quinn, 47, (“Mr. Quinn”) will have to face criminal charges in Federal Court in Boston arising out his alleged fraudulent receipt of $423,675.86 in benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security administration.
Four count indictment alleges theft of government property and false statements
On December 12, 2019, a federal grand jury sitting in Boston returned a sealed four-count indictment against Mr. Quinn charging him with:
- Theft of government money by knowingly and willfully embezzling, stealing and converting to his own use $98,940.46 from the Department of Veterans Affairs individual unemployability benefits between January 2012 and January 2019
- Theft of government money knowingly and willfully embezzling, stealing and converting to his own use $324,735.40 of Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits and Child Insurance benefits between January 2012 and December 2019.
- Making materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements, knowingly and willfully, to the Department of Veterans Affairs on July 11, 2016, regarding his service-connected disability and his inability to work.
- Making materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements, knowingly and willfully, to the Social Security Administration on May 5, 2018, concerning his not working since 2006, because of a medical disability.
Mr. Quinn owned and allegedly ran the Quinn Group Insurance Agency while receiving disability benefits
According to the U.S. Attorney’s announcement of the indictment, Mr. Quinn obtained more than $420,000 in veterans benefits and Social Security benefits since January 2012, by falsely telling the Department of Veterans Affairs and Social Security Administration that he was unable to work due to a disability, when in reality, he owned and operated the Quinn Group Insurance Agency, Inc.
The charges alleged in the indictment carry possible prison sentences and fines
The charges of theft of public funds provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.
Each charge of making a false statement provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.
While the above punishments state the maximum sentences allowed, any sentence imposed is set by a federal district court judge based upon the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Released on $10,000 unsecured bond after arrest and arraignment
Following the return of a sealed indictment by the grand jury on December 12, 2019, an arrest warrant was issued for Mr. Quinn. On December 13, 2019, after his arrest, he was brought before Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell for arraignment. After Mr. Quinn entered a plea of not guilty to each of the four counts, Magistrate Judge Cabell released Mr. Quinn on a $10,000 unsecured bond with conditions including no travel outside the district of Massachusetts without permission.
The next proceeding for this case is the initial status conference set for 1/21/20.
The indictment also seeks an order for Mr. Quinn to forfeit all payments received
Under the grand jury’s indictment, the U.S. Attorney also will seek, upon conviction of one or more of the offenses of charging theft from the government, an order that Mr. Quinn forfeits to the United States any property, real or personal, that constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to the offense.
The particular property for which the government seeks forfeited includes “At least $423,675.86 in United States currency, to be entered in the form of a forfeiture money judgment.”
If such a forfeiture judgment enters, the government intends to “seek forfeiture of any other property of the defendant up to the value of the [$423,675.86]” allegedly stolen or embezzled by Mr. Quinn.
Mr. Quinn began growing the Quinn Group Insurance Agency and its affiliates in 2001
The Quinn Group Insurance Agency, Inc. was incorporated in 2002 as the Shannon, Francis & Quinn Insurance Agency, Inc. In 2002, Mr. Quinn became an officer of the company, and in 2006, he became the sole officer and director. In December 2008, the Corporation changed its name to the “Quinn Group Insurance Agency.”
In a resume submitted in July 2014, for an open position on the board of assessors in Arlington, Mr. Quinn stated as his experience that from “2001 to the present (2014): Quinn Group Insurance Agency, Arlington, president: Responsible for day-to-day operations, prepare financial and tax reports, coordinated employee benefit packages, assist clients with complex insurance issues, supervise staff of 15 employees, manage sales staff, grew agency 1,200 over 13 year period.”
He also stated that he had received an honorable discharge from the United States Marine Corps after serving between 1991 and 1995.
Besides the Quinn group insurance agency, Inc., the group also includes eight other agencies that Mr. Quinn formed or acquired, including:
- The Puffer Insurance Agency: Incorporated on March 8, 2010, by Patrick Quinn at the Arlington address. Although listed on the Quinn Group’s website as an active agency, this corporation was dissolved by court order in June of 2019, apparently for failure to file an annual report.
- The G. Everett Mahony Insurance Agency: This corporation was formed on February 1, 1932 for the purpose of “to acquire and to take over a going concern, the business of G. Everett Mahony as an insurance agency now carried on in 201 Main St., Gloucester, MA.” On December 24, 2015, Mr. Quinn became the registered agent and the sole officer and director of the agency locating the corporation’s principal office at 214 Eastern Ave, Unit 3, Gloucester, MA.
- The Guard Insurance Agency: This corporation was incorporated on August 21, 2017, by Mr. Quinn. The corporation had its location at 279 Mt Auburn St, Watertown MA. A court order dissolved this corporation on June 28, 2019, apparently for failure to file an annual report for 2018.
- The Cleaves Insurance Agency, Inc: Incorporated by Mr. Quinn on January 13, 2013, this agency also has its location at 214 Eastern Ave, Unit 3, Gloucester, MA.
- The Danehy Insurance Agency, LLC: Formed by John L. Danehy Real Estate & Insurance, LLC on October 6, 2008, by Susan Glazier and John L. Danehy, as co-managers. Under a restated certificate of organization, Mr. Quinn took over on June 5, 2013, as the sole manager, renamed the LLC, and moved its location to 223 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington.
- Dudley Borland Insurance Agency: Incorporated by Mr. Quinn on June 8, 2015, with the corporation’s principal place of business at 223 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington.
- The Newton Insurance Agency: Located at 279 Mt Auburn St., Watertown MA. Mr. Quinn incorporated this company on June 11, 2018.
- The O’Brien McNamara Insurance Agency: This company was incorporated on June 1, 2018, by Mr. Quinn with its principal corporate address at 223 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington.
Federal officials involved in Mr. Quinn’s prosecution
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Jeffrey Stachowiak, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; and Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
