United States v. Issa Asad

United States v. Issa Asad, et al. (Case No. 24-CR-20363-RAR)

Court Assigned: This case is assigned to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr., U.S. Courthouse, Courtroom 11-2, 400 North Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33138.  The assigned judge is U.S. District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz, II.

Overview:

Issa Asad, 51, of Southwest Ranches, Florida, and Q Link Wireless LLC, of Dania Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud and commit offenses against the United States in connection with a years-long scheme to steal over $100 million from a celebrated federal program providing discounted phone service to people in need.  Asad, Q Link’s CEO, also pleaded guilty to laundering money from a separate scheme to defraud a different federal program meant to aid individuals and businesses hurt by the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to court records, the cases arose out of the Defendants’ scheme to defraud the FCC’s Lifeline program.  Lifeline makes basic communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. It provides subscribers a deep discount on qualifying monthly cellphone service, broadband Internet service, or bundled voice-broadband packages purchased from participating telecommunications providers.  The discount helps ensure that low-income consumers can afford 21st century connectivity services and the access they provide to jobs, healthcare, and educational resources.

Scheduled Court Hearings:           

The Sentencing hearing is hereby re-set for July 24, 2025 at 01:00 PM.

All hearings will occur before United States District Rodolfo A. Ruiz, II at the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr., U.S. Courthouse located at:

400 North Miami Avenue, Courtroom 11-2
Miami, FL 331256

Subscriber Information:

If you were a subscriber of Q Link Wireless LLC between 2012 and 2020, and part of the Federal Lifeline program, you may then submit a statement to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for consideration at sentencing.  An example of the format for such a statement can be located here: Victim Impact Statement.  Please include your full name, contact information, and documentation of any monetary loss that you potentially suffered.  Your initials will be used in all public filings to protect victim privacy.

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Attn: Michael Crawford
Victim Specialist
99 NE 4th Street
Miami, FL 33132
Email:  USAFLS-Victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov

Statutes Governing Victims’ Rights:

Pursuant to the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3771, the Department of Justice is required to provide notice to individuals who may have been harmed as a direct result of the criminal offenses of which a defendant has been convicted. In this context, “harmed” is defined broadly and is not limited to monetary loss. This office uses the Victim Notification System (“VNS”) and other methods, including web pages and press releases, to ensure potential victims receive timely notice of public events related to a case. For more information, go to https://www.justice.gov/usao/resources/crime-victims-rights-ombudsman/victims-rights-act

A different federal law, the Mandatory Victim Restitution Act (“MVRA”), 18 U.S.C. § 3663A, governs restitution in this case. Restitution is a determination by the judge that a victim is entitled to monetary compensation for losses suffered as a direct result of a crime for which a defendant has been convicted. It is not a guarantee of payment. Under the MVRA, if a defendant is convicted of a crime carrying restitution as a penalty, the judge at sentencing determines who is a victim and in what amount they are entitled to restitution. In cases involving property crimes, including the fraud offenses with which the defendants are charged, restitution may generally only be awarded for the value of the property lost by the victim as a direct result of a defendant’s crime of conviction less the value of any property returned to the victim. Victims may also be entitled to restitution for expenses incurred while participating in the criminal investigation or prosecution or traveling to court proceedings for the case, such as lost income, childcare, transportation, and other expenses. Restitution is generally not available for medical care, pain and suffering, emotional distress, or lost income caused by the defendant’s conduct, except in the limited context described above.