The Official Website of the Attorney General of Massachusetts

Attorney General Martha Coakley

Email & Bookmark


Contact:

Harry Pierre
(617) 727-2543

MARTHA COAKLEY

ATTORNEY GENERAL

March 30, 2009 - For immediate release:

Dorchester Man Indicted in Connection with Operating Illegal Car Rental Scheme

BOSTON – Today, a Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against a Dorchester man in connection with operating an illegal car rental operation and unlawful firearms possession. George Quinn, age 70, is charged with Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud (13 counts), Larceny over $250 (4 counts), Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card (4 counts), and Unlawful Possession of Ammunition (4 counts).   

Quinn’s alleged activities were discovered as the result of a joint-investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Office and the Boston Police Department that began in September 2008.  Authorities believe that Quinn operated an illegal car rental operation from his residence in Dorchester, using numerous vehicles that he privately owned.  Investigators discovered that in February 2008, Quinn obtained motor vehicle insurance policies with AMICA Mutual Insurance Company (AMICA).  Quinn allegedly told AMICA that he was a “collector” of cars and that he was not running a car rental business.  Authorities believe that Quinn’s misrepresentation allowed him to receive personal, as opposed to commercial, motor vehicle insurance policies, allowing him to pay a much lower insurance premium.  AMICA does not write commercial motor vehicle insurance policies.

Investigators from both the Attorney General’s Office and the Boston Police Department discovered that on various dates between February 2008 through November 2008, Quinn allegedly illegally rented his vehicles, many times to drivers who were unlicensed. Investigators discovered that during this time period the rented vehicles were involved in numerous motor vehicle accidents that resulted in property damage and sometimes personal injury.  Due to some of these accidents, AMICA paid three insurance claims as the result of damage from operators of Quinn’s rented vehicles.

In November 2008, the Boston Police Department executed a search warrant at Quinn’s Dorchester residence and discovered several firearms as well as ammunition.  Investigators discovered at that time that Quinn did not possess a valid Firearms Identification Card.

A Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against Quinn today. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on April 16, 2009.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Joshua Pakstis and was investigated by Pepper Daigler, both of Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division. Sergeant John Ford of the Boston Police Department also investigated and assisted in this case.

##########