A U.S. telecom provider and its CEO have pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States by stealing more than $100 million from a federal program designed to provide discounted phone service to people in need.
Issa Asad, 51, CEO of the Q Link Wireless LLC, based in Dania Beach, Florida, also pleaded guilty on Oct. 15 to laundering money in a separate scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was intended to aid individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both Asad and Q Link pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud, steal government money, and defraud the United States, according to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)….