Florida CEO Gets 5 Years in Prison, $128M Fine In ‘Obama Phone’ Scam
The owner of a Florida telecommunications company was sentenced to five years in jail after pleading guilty to stealing from the government program known informally as “Obama phone,” which provides cheap phone services to low-income consumers.
Q Link Wireless LLC and its 51-year-old CEO, Issa Asad, pled guilty last year to conspiring to conduct wire fraud and steal federal funds from the Lifeline program, the Department of Justice said.
Obama expanded the program in 1985, providing subsidized mobile service to the underprivileged. It was extensively attacked during the 2012 election, when a viral video surfaced showing a lady in Cleveland alleging she and her companions were handed “Obama phones.”
Fox Business noted that some telecommunication providers with Lifeline contracts welcomed the moniker, but the government did not.
Asad was sentenced to five years in jail, and he and the corporation were required to pay financial penalties and reparations totaling more than $128 million, according to the agency.
Separately, Asad pled guilty to money laundering from a government credit scheme designed to help struggling companies amid the COVID-19 epidemic.
Under the plea agreements, Asad and Q Link agreed to pay the Federal Communications Commission about $110 million in reparations. Asad also paid a nearly $17.5 million criminal fine for profits derived from Q Link’s phone service plan.
The DOJ stated that this was one of the highest financial fines imposed by the FCC in its history.
Asad also paid the Small Business Administration about $1.7 million in restitution for laundering loan profits from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during the outbreak.
According to the DOJ, he confessed to using PPP money for house building, a Land Rover payment, his personal American Express card, property taxes, jewelry, and university gifts.
Asad and Q Link acknowledged in court to defrauding the FCC’s Lifeline program.
Between 2012 and 2021, Asad and Q Link presented inaccurate information about their Lifeline clients and submitted many bogus claims for government reimbursement. They also admitted to keeping Lifeline monies that they were not entitled to and misled the FCC about the company’s compliance with program guidelines.
Asad has a criminal history and was charged with murder in 2014 after running over a groundskeeper at his business over a dispute over paying $65 for lawn services.
He eventually pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor culpable negligence and received one year of probation and a $225 fine.
“Issa Asad and his company, Q Link Wireless, deliberately scammed two vital government programs aimed at supporting people and companies in economic distress, wrongfully diverting hundreds of millions of dollars for their personal benefit and gain, all while impeding the government’s capacity to assist those who genuinely required the help,” stated U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’ Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “These outcomes underscore our resolve to make sure that those who mastermind corporate fraud schemes face personal consequences.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are specially equipped to follow the complex financial trail left by criminals, and we are dedicated to holding those accountable for crimes committed,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carterof the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office. “This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions. Mr. Asad prioritized his own greed, stealing $100 million from taxpayers. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that our Global Illicit Financial Team and our law enforcement partners remain vigilant and will vigorously pursue those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraudulent means.”
“Q Link and Asad stole funds from a key FCC program meant to serve low-income households,” said Inspector General Fara Damelin of the FCC, Office of Inspector General (FCC-OIG).
“This sentencing sends an important message that egregious criminal misconduct against FCC programs will not go unanswered. FCC OIG investigators and their law enforcement partners at DOJ, IRS, SIGPR, and USPIS, did an outstanding job on this investigation, and we thank FCC for its assistance. FCC OIG is dedicated to stopping waste, fraud, and abuse, and will continue to vigorously pursue investigations against wrongdoers who defraud FCC programs and victimize our most vulnerable populations,” Damelin added.
SHOWDOWN ON THE FIVE: Jessica Tarlov Drops Truth Bomb on GOP’s Controversial Voter Legislation
SHOWDOWN ON THE FIVE: Jessica Tarlov Drops Truth Bomb on GOP’s Controversial Voter Legislation
WASHINGTON — A ferocious battle over the soul of American democracy erupted on cable news this week, proving once again that the clash over election integrity is reaching a boiling point.
During a high-stakes segment on Fox News' top-rated program The Five, liberal co-host Jessica Tarlov ignited an intense firestorm by sounding the alarm on the Republican-backed SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act).
Her warning was sharp, direct, and unapologetic: This isn't just a simple Voter ID bill—it’s a bureaucratic roadblock designed to keep millions of legal Americans away from the ballot box.
"Far Beyond Voter ID": Tarlov Sounds the Alarm
While GOP proponents frame the SAVE Act as a common-sense measure to restore trust in elections, Tarlov shredded that narrative live on air, dissecting the fine print of the proposed federal mandate.
Under the bill, anyone registering to vote in federal elections would be legally required to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship—such as a physical U.S. passport, a certified birth certificate, or naturalization papers.
"People hear 'Voter ID' and think it’s just showing a driver's license at the counter," Tarlov argued. "It’s not. This bill demands physical proof of citizenship upfront. Millions of everyday, hard-working American citizens do not have a valid passport sitting in a drawer or immediate access to an official birth certificate. This creates an artificial barrier to a fundamental constitutional right." without instant paperwork access.
Integrity Guardrail or Voter Suppression? The Great Debate
The fiery television debate reflects a massive political rift tearing through Capitol Hill and statehouses across the country.
The Conservative Defense: Republican sponsors and conservative commentators insist the measure is vital to national security and sovereign elections. They argue that verifying citizenship at registration is a necessary safeguard to prevent non-citizens from ever slipping onto federal voter rolls.
The Progressive Pushback: Critics like Tarlov argue that non-citizen voting in federal elections is already illegal, strictly policed, and exceptionally rare. Opponents caution that adding heavy administrative hurdles will unintentionally disenfranchise lawful voters—particularly students, low-income citizens, rural voters, and women whose names have changed due to marriage.
The Stakes Couldn't Be Higher
As the debate over voter access versus election security intensifies, the SAVE Act has turned into a major political litmus test.
Is requiring physical proof of citizenship a mandatory protection to guarantee that every vote is lawful? Or is it an unnecessary, red-tape nightmare that punishes legal citizens for not having their paperwork in order?
One thing is certain: as long as voices like Jessica Tarlov continue to push back on prime-time television, the fight over who gets to vote—and how hard it is to do so—is far from over.
Jessica Tarlov Says Trump Has 35% Approval Rating in Most Polls
Supporters of the bill strongly disagree, saying it is designed to protect election integrity by preventing non-citizens from registering to vote. Opponents argue the existing safeguards are already sufficient and fear the measure could unintentionally disenfranchise lawful voters. Is the SAVE Act a necessary election safeguard, or does it create unnecessary barriers to voting?
Jessica Tarlov Suspended Indefinitely After Allegedly Assaulting Fox News Crew Member
Jessica Tarlov Suspended Indefinitely After Allegedly Assaulting Fox News Crew Member
NEW YORK — The set of Fox News’ hit show The Five has seen its fair share of heated shouting matches, but what went down behind the scenes this week turned a political debate into an outright crime scene.
In a shocking move that has sent shockwaves through Manhattan media circles, network executives have suspended co-host Jessica Tarlov indefinitely following an alleged physical assault on a crew member during a commercial break.
The reason for the explosive violent outburst? A camera operator made the fatal mistake of laughing out loud at one of her political talking points.
The Laugh That Triggered a Rampage
According to multiple insider accounts and studio witnesses, the situation escalated with terrifying speed. During a taped segment discussing presidential leadership, Tarlov aggressively defended President Joe Biden, passionately declaring him to be "one of the most alert and engaged presidents in American history."
While her conservative co-hosts on The Five usually counter her hot takes with eye-rolls and sharp rebuttals, it was an off-camera crew member who couldn't hold back.
A veteran camera operator reportedly chuckled out loud at the statement—a moment of candid disbelief that pushed Tarlov entirely over the edge.
"She just flew completely off the handle," one studio staffer revealed under the condition of anonymity. "Jessica has always been hyper-sensitive to pushback, but this was different. The moment she heard that laugh, her face changed. She lost control, lunged at the crew member, and turned physically aggressive. It took two floor managers to pull her off."
Fox News Responds: A Mandatory "Cooling-Off" Period
Network executives acted swiftly to control the fallout. Within hours of the incident, Tarlov was escorted from the building and informed of her immediate, indefinite suspension.
While the network hasn't closed the door permanently—noting they will consider a formal appeal at a later date—the consensus inside the building is clear: She is out for the foreseeable future.
In a internal memo, management framed the suspension as a mandatory "cooling-off period" to review safety protocols and investigate the physical altercation. However, staff members say the atmosphere on set remains deeply rattled.
Beyond Political Delusion: When Rhetoric Turns Violent
Political commentators across social media were quick to seize on the scandal. For years, Tarlov served as the resident liberal voice on The Five, regularly taking fire from a panel of staunch conservatives. But critics argue that defending the indefensible finally broke her composure.
To many viewers, claiming Biden was "sharp and alert" in 2024 or 2025 was already seen as an exercise in extreme political bias—but resorting to physical violence when called out on it marks a dangerous new low.
"This isn't just about partisan bias anymore," noted one media analyst following the story. "When a commentator becomes so consumed by political delusion that a simple chuckle triggers a physical assault, you've crossed a line from political debate into total instability."
What’s Next for The Five?
As Fox News searches for a temporary replacement to fill the liberal chair, the network faces intense scrutiny over workplace safety and on-set decorum.
Will Jessica Tarlov ever walk back onto the set of The Five, or has the "token leftist" finally burned her last bridge in cable news?
This story is actively developing. Scroll down to view real-time updates, legal analysis of the alleged assault, and reaction clips from around the media world!
