$109.6MLifeline restitution ordered
Q Link Wireless's founder was ordered to pay more than $109.6 million in restitution after a federal judge sentenced him to 60 months for stealing from the FCC's low-income phone program.
Issa Asad pleaded guilty to running the fraud from as early as 2012 through at least 2021, manufacturing fake cellphone activity for customers who weren't using their phones. Combined financial penalties across his Lifeline and separate PPP loan fraud topped $128 million.
Source: Wireless Estimator · Communications Daily. Read more: lifeline phone subsidy fraud · case file