John Quinn Pleads Guilty to Internet Sales of Tools Stolen from GE Aviation

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that John Quinn, 55, of Rutland, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to a charge of mail fraud. U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions, III released Quinn on conditions pending his sentencing, which has been set for April 21.

According to the information to which Quinn pled guilty, Quinn had been employed for a number of years as a subcontractor for GE Aviation in Rutland. The GE facility manufactures components for jet engines on military and commercial aircraft. Quinn served as an account manager and was involved in the ordering, stocking, and delivering of tools and other materials. According to the information, Quinn began stealing tools from GE Aviation’s inventory no later than 2009 and resold the stolen tools over the Internet. Most of the stolen hardware consisted of high-speed carbide drill bits. Purchasers paid for the stolen tools by depositing funds into Quinn’s personal PayPal account. According to PayPal records, between 2009 and July 2013, Quinn realized more than $108,000 from sales of carbide drill bits.

GE Aviation came to suspect that Quinn might be stealing company property last spring and conducted a sting operation where security personnel made three undercover purchases from Quinn. Quinn typically used the U.S. mails to send the stolen tools to the purchasers.

As part of his plea agreement, Quinn consented to the entry of a $108,000 forfeiture money judgment.

Quinn faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence will be determined with reference to federal sentencing guidelines.

This case was investigated by the Rutland Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Quinn is represented by Barry Griffith. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.