BREAKING NEWS: Former SPiT-FA Vice President @ Large Rick O'Quinn & His Wife PLEAD GUILTY to their roles in a Scheme to Provide and Receive Prohibited Labor Payments

Updated: Apr 8

Press Release

Florida couple pleads guilty to their roles in a scheme to provide and receive prohibited labor payments

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Florida couple pled guilty today to conspiracy to provide and receive prohibited labor payments, in violation of the Labor Management Relations Act, also known as the Taft-Hartley Act.

According to court documents, since at least 2010 until November 2023, Ricky Dallas O’Quinn, 63, of Melbourne, Florida, served as both an officer and employee of International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA), a labor organization that represents protective security officers at federal workplaces. SPFPA executed collective bargaining agreements with several employers covering the security industry in several states. Ricky’s wife, Mabel O’Quinn, was the founder, incorporator, and an initial director of Company-2, which provided protective security officers at federal workplaces in numerous states. While Mabel served as Company-2’s chief executive officer and president, Ricky was involved in the finance, budget, and operations of the company since its inception in a clandestine role. Both Ricky and Mabel O’Quinn hid Ricky’s involvement in operating Company-2.

From at least 2010 to 2023, Individual-1 was the president of Company-1, which provides protective security officers at federal workplaces in numerous states. The O’Quinn's conspired with Individual-1 to obtain government contracts by exploiting Company-2’s status as a small, woman service-disabled owned business.

Company-1 used Company-2 as a subcontractor and advised Company-2 on what contracts to bid on and in which geographic locations, which produced financial benefits for both companies. In exchange, Individual-1 and his family would receive 40 percent of the ownership and/or profits of Company-2.

From at least April 2013 through June 2024, Individual-1 agreed to award subcontracts from Company-1 to supply private security guards at various federal installations to Company-2. The proceeds from those awards totaled tens of millions of dollars.

Individual-1 specified which vendors and consultants Company-2 would hire and monitored and directed Company-2’s finances. At Individual-1’s direction, Company-2 paid three of Individual-1’s relatives as consultants at rates of $195 and $225 per hour, totaling millions of dollars in payments.

Ricky and Mabel O’Quinn are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 17, 2025, and face up to five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Matthew R. Galeotti, head of Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Troy W. Springer, Special Agent in Charge, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. accepted the pleas.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen Robeson and Drew Bradylyons for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Vincent Falvo Jr. for the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the cases.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:25-cr-70 (Ricky) and 1:25-cr-71 (Mabel).

Contact

Press Officer USAVAE.Press@usdoj.gov

Updated April 2, 2025

This is an action brought by the United States to recover damages and civil penalties under the False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-33, and under the Anti-Kickback Act, 41 U.S.C. § 8706, and to recover all remedies available under common law claims for payment under mistake of fact and unjust enrichment.

Based on the Justice Department reports since at least 2010 until November 2023, Ricky Dallas O’Quinn, 63, of Melbourne, Florida, served as both an officer and employee of International Union Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA), a labor organization that represents protective security officers at federal workplaces. so the question that needs to be asked is what did SPiT-FA President David L. Hickey above know about this and WHY did he continue to let this happen?

On November 6, 2024 SPiT-FA Vice President @ Large Rick O'Quinn suddenly resigned his position one day after the Department of Justice filed its civil lawsuit against Mabel O'Quinn, Rick O'Quinn's wife and Patronus Systems, Inc. It should also be noted that SPiT-FA removed Rick O'Quinn's picture from the front of its website like he never existed.

Also see.

Former SPiT-FA Vice President @ Large Rick O'Quinn and Right-Hand Man to SPiT-FA President David L. Hickey may be involved in a DOJ Criminal Investigation involving Patronus Systems Inc

January 20 2020 SPiT-FA Facebook Tribute to Rick O'Quinn

We'd like to highlight the work of the exceptional Rick O'Quinn.

"Rick has been a member of SPFPA for over 35 years. Before his time at SPFPA, Rick held multiple positions at NASA, worked as Sr. SWAT Team Leader at Kennedy Space Center, FL, and completed a 20 month Tour in Iraq with the US Army. After completing his tour in 2008, he was appointed Region 3 Vice-President at SPFPA. In 2010, he was elected as Region 2 Vice-President for SPFPA and reelected in 2015. Rick currently holds additional responsibilities as Senior Advisor to the President and Trustee on the SPFPA Trust".

"My favorite part of the job is working with our Local leaders to advance our Security Professionals' wages, benefits, and quality of life - while they protect and serve on a daily basis."

"Rick O'Quinn, Vice-President, Region 2. Thank you for all that you do Rick!"

Next Stop for this CRIMINAL: Rick O'Quinn, Former SPiT-FA Vice President @ Large & Senior Advisor to SPiT-FA President David L. Hickey?

Rick O'Quinn and his wife Mabel O’Quinn are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 17, 2025, and face up to five years in prison. Hopefully they both get the Maximum Sentence for their CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES for not only defrauding the Federal Government, the taxpayers but also the SPiT-FA Dues Paying Members!

2025 Criminal Enforcement Actions

An indictment is a formal accusation or charge based on a finding by a Grand Jury that it is likely that the person charged committed the criminal offense described in the indictment and is the means by which an accused person (defendant) is brought to trial. An indictment raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

An information is a formal accusation of a crime by a government attorney rather than a Grand Jury. An information raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

A charge is an accusation of criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Each count is a separate and distinct offense charged in an indictment or information.

A guilty plea is a defendant’s admission to the court that he or she committed the offense charged and an agreement to waive the right to a trial.

A conviction is a judgment based on a jury’s verdict, judge’s finding, or the defendant’s admission that the defendant is guilty of the crime charged.

A sentence is a judicial determination of the punishment to be imposed on an individual who has plead guilty or has been convicted by a jury or judge of a criminal offense.

Feds Investigate Security Union Leader

Patronus Systems Inc / SPiT-FA VP @ Large Rick O'Quinn's Wife Under DHS OIG Investigation

SPiT-FA's Vice Pres @ Large Rick O'Quinn & Patronus Systems, Inc Conflict of Interest Exposed

So, the BIG Question on everyone's mind is since SPiT-FA Vice President @ Large Ricky Dallas O’Quinn the # 2 man of SPiT-FA President Dave L. Hickey above PLEADED GUILTY to CRIMINAL CHARGES to provide and Receive Prohibited Labor Payments since 2010 while he he held several titles within the SPiT-FA International Organization Senior Advisor to SPiT-FA President David L. Hickey, Vice President @ Large, EXECUTIVE BOARD Member, and Trustee to the SPiT-FA Health and Welfare Fund while committing these CRIMES does this now make and/or did this make the SPiT-FA organization a CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION?

YOU DECIDE THAT FOR YOURSELF!

SPiT-FA President David L. Hickey was fully aware that Rick O'Quinn's wife's owned Patronus Systems Inc. as noted by Rick O'Quinn's deposition below. SPiT-FA President Hickey was also fully aware that SPiT-FA represented Patronus Systems' Inc PSO officers at several federal locations around the country and received monthly dues from its members. SPiT-FA and Hickey has even attempted to organize our Kentucky Patronus PSO's over the last 2 years stating through their attorneys @ several NLRB hearings and through briefs that Rick O'Quinn had no involvement in Patronus Systems Inc.

Based on Former SPiT-FA Vice President @ Large Rick O'Quinn's PLEA DEAL it turns out that Rick O'Quinn was heavily involved in Patronus Systems Inc from its start back in 2010 and that he hid his interest in the company as well as his CRIMINAL activity profiting from both ends of the stick from 2010 to 2024. This was clearly a conflict of interest, however from 2010 until 2024 SPiT-FA President David L. Hickey closed a blind eye to it and did nothing about it and even allowed and promoted Rick O'Quinn to several positions on the SPiT-FA Executive Board including Senior Advisor to Hickey, despite this Conflict of Interest, until Rick O'Quinn's resignation from SPiT-FA on November 6, 2024.

SPiT-FA President Hickey Spends Over 1 Million Dollars in its Members DUES Money on Lawsuits. As of today this is now over 2 Million Dollars!

The other question is how much MONEY did Former SPiT-FA Vice President @ Large Ricky Dallas O’Quinn the # 2 man of SPiT-FA President Dave L. Hickey actually received from his CRIMINAL ACTIVITY from 2010 to November 2023? and did anyone else in the SPiT-FA organization receive any MONEY ALSO?

Also why did SPiT-FA President Dave L Hickey also close a blind eye to Rick O'Quinn's Criminal Activity? Hickey was fully aware that Rick O'Quinn's wife owned Patronus Systems inc. We published this information years ago which triggered this CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION!

SPiT-FA Headquarters is located at 25510 Kelly Road Roseville, Michigan 48066.

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