Quinn
UPDATED April 25: The former owner and operator of an East Arlington-based insurance agency has been convicted by a federal jury in Boston of fraudulently receiving disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA), U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins said in a news release Thursday, April 14.
Following a six-day jury trial, Patrick Quinn, 50, was convicted of two counts each of theft of public funds and making false statements. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Aug. 17, YourArlington partner Patch reported.
After Quinn was indicted in 2019, he resigned his seat from the town Zoning Board of Appeals.
Kayla Pretzer, a representtaive of Dix & Eaton, a Cleveland-based public-relations company, issued the following statement from Quinn April 25:
"In 2019, management of Quinn Group Insurance and its day-to-day operations were assumed by the team that was and is currently in place. In 2021, the company was sold to PCF Insurance Services."
$420,000 stolen, U.S attorney says
Since January 2012, the U.S. attorney said, Quinn stole more than $420,000 in veteran benefits and Social Security benefits by falsely telling the VA and SSA that he was unable to work because of a disability, when in reality, he owned and operated Quinn Insurance Group.
In October 1995, shortly after being discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps, Quinn applied and was approved for disability-compensation benefits with the VA based on a series of physical injuries and, later, post-traumatic stress disorder.
In March 2005, Quinn applied for individual unemployability benefits with the VA, which is paid to individuals who are unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of their service-connected disabilities. In the application, Quinn claimed that his PTSD prevented him from securing a job and that he had become too disabled to work.
In support of his application, Quinn submitted a letter from his purported final employer, Insurance Management Consultants Inc., claiming he was let go because of his erratic behavior. While receiving benefits, Quinn completed and returned four VA employment questionnaires, in each of which he attested he had not worked during the previous year.
Claimed inability to work
Similarly, in November 2005, Quinn applied and was approved for disability-insurance benefits with Social Security, this time claiming he had become unable to work because of his disabling condition in September 2004. In June 2006, Quinn applied for child's insurance benefits, which are paid to the dependent of a disabled individual receiving disability benefits, on behalf of his minor child.
In May 2018, Quinn reported to the SSA that he had not worked since May 2006. The SSA continued to pay benefits to Quinn and his son based on this report.
Evidence presented at trial established that Quinn was self-employed as the owner and operator of his own insurance agency, Shannon Francis & Quinn Insurance, which later became Quinn Insurance Group Inc, since at least March 2003 – contrary to his claims to the VA and SSA. Quinn also served as the president, treasurer, secretary and director of Insurance Management Consultants Inc. from 2000 through 2007, despite telling the VA and SSA that the company fired him in 2005.
While operating his own insurance company, Quinn regularly received payments ranging in amounts of $6,500 to $15,000 and grew his business significantly through acquisitions of nine smaller insurance companies at various times between 2012 through 2019. Further evidence established that Quinn was appointed by 65 insurance companies to conduct business on their behalf and renewed his insurance producer license on numerous occasions.
Quinn could face up to 15 years in prison, six years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000.
The 2019 announcement was made by then-U.S. 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.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit was prosecuting the case.
Dec. 17, 2019: Indicted E. Arlington insurer resigns from zoning board
This news summary was published Friday, April 15, 2022. The headline and the copy for this story was updated April 19, to reflect the fact that Mr. Quinn no longer owns the company that bears his name. A statement from Quinn was added April 25.
