July 29, 2025 • 15 mins
1. ICE Arrests in Houston
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 214 illegal aliens in the Houston, Texas area over a six-month period.
- All individuals were charged or convicted of sex offenses involving minors.
- This number exceeds the total arrests for similar offenses in the entire previous fiscal year (211 arrests).
- The arrests are attributed to a multi-agency targeting initiative launched under the Trump administration, aimed at removing “the worst of the worst” criminal aliens.
Notable Arrests Highlighted
- Jesus Coutirez (67, Mexico): Convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child; deported.
- George Zebra (48, Mexico): Convicted of multiple child sex offenses; deported.
- Manuel Antonio Castro (37, El Salvador): Convicted of sexual assault of a minor; in custody pending deportation.
- Jose Mesa (40, Mexico): Convicted of theft and sexual assault of a child; deported.
- Sergio Rolando (45, Mexico): Convicted of DWI and aggravated sexual assault of a child; deported.
Agencies Involved
- ICE collaborated with multiple federal and local agencies including:
- FBI
- ATF
- DEA
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- U.S. Marshals
- Diplomatic Security Services
2. Criticism of Government Programs
The latter part of the document shifts to a political critique of past Democratic administrations, particularly:
- The “Obama phone” program (Lifeline), which provided subsidized phones to low-income individuals.
- Allegations of fraud and abuse in the program, including a case where a Florida CEO was sentenced to prison and fined $128 million for defrauding the government.
- The piece connects this to broader claims of government waste and corruption, especially under President Obama.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Well, I haven't been overly interested in it. You know,
it's something. It's a hoax that's been built up way
beyond proportion. I can say this, those files were run
by the worst come on earth. They were run by Komi,
they were run by Garland, they were run by Biden
and all of the people that actually ran the government,
including the autopen Those files were run for four years
(00:23):
by those people. If they had anything, I assumed they
would have released it.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
A whole thing is OK.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
If you're listening to the forty seven Morning Update with
Ben ferguson.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
Good Tuesday morning.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Nice to have you with us on the forty seven
Morning Update, and we've got two major stories recovering this morning.
You want to know just how bad the number of
sex offenders are where you live. Well, this is exactly
what President Trump talked about getting rid of the worst
among us that are legal immigrants. ICE has arrested over
(00:54):
two hundred illegal alien child sex offenders in one city
alone over the past six months. Not the country, but
in one city alone. I'm gonna tell you that story
coming up in just a moment. I also want to
talk about Donald Trump's promise to clean up waste fraud
and abuse. You may remember back in twenty twelve, there
(01:16):
was a scam. It was called the Obama phone scam.
You may remember a woman saying she's gonna vote for
Obama because he gives her a free phone.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Well, now a CEO is headed to prison.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
You must pay one hundred and twenty eight million dollar
fine after defrauding the government. And it deals with exactly
that those Obama phones are still around.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
But first I gotta ask you a question.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Are you one of those that's just so tired of
giving your money to radical left woke companies that actually
are fighting against your values every day?
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Well, there are certain bills that you pay.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Every month that if you can go with a conservative company,
why not do it? In fact, why not go with
a conservative company that actually takes part of your bill
every month that you're going to pay to somebody and
they give it back to organizations that support your First
and your Second Amendment rights, that support the rights of
unborn children, that stand with our military, are first responders
(02:13):
and so many wounded warriors that need help. Well, that
bill I'm talking about is your cell phone bill. And
I've been telling you for a long time about Patriot Mobile.
But there's no better time to switch than right now.
Not only does Patriot Mobile operate on all three major
networks in this country, yeah, all three. That means you
get the same great coverage you're used to right now,
(02:36):
but you also make a difference with every call you
make and every text you make. And why would you
want to give your money to Big Mobile? Big Mobile
has been giving big donations to democratic causes, democratic candidates,
and radical left organizations. I'm talking about organizations that actually
support abortion. That is why I want you to switch
(02:57):
right now to Patriot Mobile. Go ahead and make the switch,
and it's so easy. All you have to do is
simply call Patriot Mobiles one hundred percent US based team
from the comfort of your home or your office and
they'll have you activated in minutes. And if you're still
locked in a contract, not a problem. Patriots Mobile contract
buyout program covers up to five hundred dollars per device.
(03:21):
Keep your same number, keep your phone, or upgrade do
a new one. So back to my point, what are
you waiting for? Call Patriot Mobile today and make a
difference every single day with every call you make. Patriot
Mobile dot com slash Ferguson. That's Patriot Mobile dot com
slash ferguson or nine seven to two Patriot. And if
(03:42):
you use the promo code Ferguson, you're gonna get a
free month of service on top of that. Patriot Mobile
dot com slash Ferguson or nine seven two Patriot. That's
Patriot Mobile dot com slash ferguson or ninety seven to
two Patriot. It's the forty seven Morning Update and it
starts right now.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
He's number one.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
I want to talk about some new news and data
that is coming out that is going to shock or
should shock every American.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Unfortunately the media is refusing to cover it.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
ICE arrest are happening at record pace, and it's not
just random people. ICE has now arrested over two hundred
illegal alien child sex offenders in the Houston, Texas area alone.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
I want to say that again.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
ICE has arrested over two hundred illegal alien child sex
offenders in Houston alone, not the country, not the state
of Texas, in one city. This coming from US Immigration
and Customs Enforcement saying it this way. US Immigration and
Customs Enforcement has arrested two hundred and fourteen illegal aliens
(04:48):
for immigration offenses in the Houston area who have been
charged or convicted of a sex offense involving a minor.
The two hundred and fourteen arrests were more than the
Houston filled off arrested during the entire twenty twenty four
fiscal year when officers they are arrested two hundred and
eleven illegal aliens charged or convicted of child sex offenses.
(05:11):
The surge and arrests over the last six months of
illegal aliens charged with they're convicted of child sex offenses
a direct result of a whole of government approach implemented
under the Trump administration that has now led to the
establishment of multi agency targeting teams in each area of responsibility.
(05:32):
Now these teams conduct daily enhanced immigration enforcement operations targeting
the worst of the worst criminal aliens, something that the
President promised when he was running for president and yes
making good on that promise. They are targeting the worst
the worst criminal aliens for one reason arrest and then
(05:52):
the second reason is removal. In Southeast Texas, those efforts
have resulted in an increase in arrests of all quote
dangerous criminal aliens, leading to safer communities, stronger national security,
and enhance border security as well, saying this, bringing together
the resources and expertise of the entire federal law enforcement
(06:14):
community to confront the overwhelming surge of illegal immigration that
we saw over the past four years has resulted in
the arrest and removal of historic numbers of violent criminal aliens,
transnational gang members, and child sex offenders. That is what
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Acting Field Director Paul
(06:35):
McBride said his statement.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
He continued by saying this.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
While we still have a long way to go to
truly get this crisis under control, the strides we have
made in just the last six months to make our
local communities safer are substantial, and our officers continue to
work tirelessly every day to get the worst of the
worst criminal aliens out of Southeast Texas to return our
communities to places we can all enjoy now. Among the
(07:00):
aliens that were charged or convicted of a child sex
offense who were arrested by the ICE Houston Field Office
in the past six months, here are some of the worst.
A man by the name of Jesus Gutierrez. He was
a sixty seven year old, three times deported criminal alien
from Mexico, He was arrested March to twenty eight and
has been convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
(07:22):
He's also been convicted of driving while intoxicated. ICE removed
the man to Mexico April the fourth. George Zebra, a
forty eight year old criminal alien from Mexico, was arrested
March to twenty first. He's now been convicted of not one,
but two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a miner
in sexual indecency with a miner. ICE has removed him
(07:44):
to Mexico March to twenty fourth as well. Manuel Antonio Castro,
a thirty seven year old, has also a rap sheet
twice deported criminal alien, this time from Al Salvador. He
was arrested July the eighteenth and has been convicted of
sexual assault of a mina and twice for ilegal re entry.
He remains in ICE custody, pinning his third removal to
(08:05):
El Salvador. Jose Mesa is a forty year old four
time deported criminal alien from Mexico who has yet again
arrested June the twenty fourth. He's been convicted of theft
and sexual assault of a child. ICE removed the man
to Mexico June the twenty fifth. Sergio Rolando, a forty
five year old three time deported criminal alien from Mexico
(08:26):
who has arrested June the twelfth, has been convicted of
DWI and aggravated sexual assault of a child. He's been
removed to Mexico July the fourteenth. Now you look at
the difference now between what's happening and over the last
four years, federal law enforcement agencies have been contributed to
the multi agency targeting teams, including the Houston Office of
(08:49):
the FBI, the Houston Office of the ATF, the Houston
Office of the DA, and the US Customs and Border Protection,
as well as the Diplomats Security Services and the US
Marshall Service. You add in state and local law enforcement
agencies that have also assisted ice. You look at this
and this I go back to what I said is
just in one city, two hundred and fourteen illegal aliens
(09:11):
have been arrested for immigration offense in the Houston area
in the past six months, and they've been charged or
convicted of sex offenses involving miners.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Now, story number two.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
I want to take you back in history for just
a moment. You may remember when President Donald Trump ran
for office, one of the things he promised what he
was going to clean up waste fraud and abuse. Now,
when did our government get really big into waste fraud
and abuse. A lot of it actually happened when President
Barack Obama was in office, because he understood that it's
(09:44):
easier to buy votes than to convince people to vote
for you for actual policy reasons. You may remember the
perfect example of buying votes, a woman that became famous
for her reason for voting for Barack Obama over a
guy by the name of min Romney. Let me be clear,
I'm not advocating for voting for Mitt Romney for anything.
(10:04):
We now know what a disaster he was, but at
the time, he obviously was willing to do a lot
better job for this country than Barack Obama. Insert September
twenty six of twenty twelve and the famous woman who
loved her Obama phone.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
Wama, you got Obama phone? Yes, everybody in Cleveland. Oh
my Nordy got Obama.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Fault.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
Keep a woman president. You know he gave us a phone.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Give you a phone. Far Let he give you a phone.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
If you signed up, if you'ring you a full steps.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
You aw secial.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Charity, you got low income.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
You disability?
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Okay, what's wrong with Romney again?
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Romney?
Speaker 4 (10:42):
He sucks. There it is.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
The woman made it clear, you can buy my vote.
The Obama phone was real, and it was a way
to buy votes. And the Democratic Party was giving out
those Obama phones and free sales service each and every month.
Well fast to where we are today, and we know
a lot more about how corrupt the program actually was.
The Obama phones. It was also a big scam. And
(11:09):
a Florida ceo is now headed to prison and has
been ordered to pay one hundred and twenty eight million
dollars in fines after quote defrauding the government. And we're
also being told this may be the tip of the iceberg.
The owner of a Florida telecommunications company will spend the
next five years in prison. That's it, only five years,
(11:34):
and his firm must pay a hefty fine regarding the
Obama phone scam. Q Link Wireless LLC and its owner
identified as a CEO isa Asade, previously pled guilty to
conspiring to commit wired fraud and still federal funds from
the Lifeline program that originally began in the nineteen eighties
(11:55):
to offer home phone service to those that were in
needs so they could call nine one one. Well, the
program offered subsidized cell phone service, then to lower income people,
and then free phones. And in that twenty twelve video,
you had that protester emerging outside of Mitt Rodney event
who claimed her neighborhood received then Obama phone. Everybody's got one,
(12:17):
every minority. When asked why she supported Obama, the woman said,
everybody in Cleveland, low minority got Obama phones. Keep Obama
and President you know, he gave us the phone. He's
gonna do more.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Now.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
This clip was really the first time many Americans ever
heard about the abuse in this program, and the name
Obama Phone caught on after the video went viral. Some
telecommunications companies with Lifeline contracts embraced the term as a
marketing ploy. The government, by the way, did not go
back to twenty thirteen, bright bart News reported the opposition
(12:53):
to the Lifeline program was growing, as Track Phone Wireless,
the company that most benefited from the government's up c,
is now advertising on the inside the Beltway news websites
in an effort to quote unquote save it.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
You go to the Fox article and.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
It now says that Aside was sentenced to prison and he,
along with his company, must pay one hundred and twenty
eight million dollars in fines. In a press release on Friday,
the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida
shared more details about the case and just how bad
the fraud may be. Aside to fraud in another federal
government program that states, the Paycheck Protection Program, also known
(13:33):
as PPP, by making false statements about q Link's business,
Congress you may remember created PPP and it was filled
with Wayte's fraud and abuse during the COVID nineteen pandemic
to authorize forgivable loans of small businesses for job retention
as well as quote other expenses. Aside the q links
name executed a fraudulent scheme to obtain and.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
Keep PPP proceeds.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
To further the scheme, Aside May's false statements about Qlink's business,
including a false claim that qln's Lifeline reimbursement substantially decreased
because of the pandemic. Aside then in twenty twenty one,
engaged in an unlawful financial transaction involving approximately three hundred
and eighty nine thousand of those proceeds, Aside spent PvP
(14:21):
loan proceeds on a land Rover, payment, his personal AMEX card, jewelry,
and personal property taxes. Aside was reportedly charged with murder
several years ago in connection with driving over a grounds
keeper at his business, per another Fox article. He later
pleaded no contest to misdemeanor culporable negligence and was slapped
(14:44):
with one year of probation in order to pay just
a one hundred and twenty five dollars fine. The outlet said,
proof if you've got really good lawyers, you can get
away with a hell of a lot. As for the
Obama phone scam, for the CEO at least is headed
to prison and we'll pay, in theory one hundred and
twenty eight million dollars in fines for defrauding the American taxpayer.
(15:07):
But is this program still going yes? Is the program
still corrupt as hell?
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Yes? And is it time that the.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Trump administration look into it? You better believe it, And
there's a very good chance that's exactly what's happening right now.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Thank you for listening to the forty seven Morning Update
with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever
you're listening to this podcast right now and for more
in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast
and we will see you back here tomorrow
Well, I haven't been overly interested in it. You know,
it's something. It's a hoax that's been built up way
beyond proportion. I can say this, those files were run
by the worst come on earth. They were run by Komi,
they were run by Garland, they were run by Biden
and all of the people that actually ran the government,
including the autopen Those files were run for four years
(00:23):
by those people. If they had anything, I assumed they
would have released it.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
A whole thing is OK.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
If you're listening to the forty seven Morning Update with
Ben ferguson.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
Good Tuesday morning.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Nice to have you with us on the forty seven
Morning Update, and we've got two major stories recovering this morning.
You want to know just how bad the number of
sex offenders are where you live. Well, this is exactly
what President Trump talked about getting rid of the worst
among us that are legal immigrants. ICE has arrested over
(00:54):
two hundred illegal alien child sex offenders in one city
alone over the past six months. Not the country, but
in one city alone. I'm gonna tell you that story
coming up in just a moment. I also want to
talk about Donald Trump's promise to clean up waste fraud
and abuse. You may remember back in twenty twelve, there
(01:16):
was a scam. It was called the Obama phone scam.
You may remember a woman saying she's gonna vote for
Obama because he gives her a free phone.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Well, now a CEO is headed to prison.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
You must pay one hundred and twenty eight million dollar
fine after defrauding the government. And it deals with exactly
that those Obama phones are still around.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
But first I gotta ask you a question.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Are you one of those that's just so tired of
giving your money to radical left woke companies that actually
are fighting against your values every day?
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Well, there are certain bills that you pay.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Every month that if you can go with a conservative company,
why not do it? In fact, why not go with
a conservative company that actually takes part of your bill
every month that you're going to pay to somebody and
they give it back to organizations that support your First
and your Second Amendment rights, that support the rights of
unborn children, that stand with our military, are first responders
(02:13):
and so many wounded warriors that need help. Well, that
bill I'm talking about is your cell phone bill. And
I've been telling you for a long time about Patriot Mobile.
But there's no better time to switch than right now.
Not only does Patriot Mobile operate on all three major
networks in this country, yeah, all three. That means you
get the same great coverage you're used to right now,
(02:36):
but you also make a difference with every call you
make and every text you make. And why would you
want to give your money to Big Mobile? Big Mobile
has been giving big donations to democratic causes, democratic candidates,
and radical left organizations. I'm talking about organizations that actually
support abortion. That is why I want you to switch
(02:57):
right now to Patriot Mobile. Go ahead and make the switch,
and it's so easy. All you have to do is
simply call Patriot Mobiles one hundred percent US based team
from the comfort of your home or your office and
they'll have you activated in minutes. And if you're still
locked in a contract, not a problem. Patriots Mobile contract
buyout program covers up to five hundred dollars per device.
(03:21):
Keep your same number, keep your phone, or upgrade do
a new one. So back to my point, what are
you waiting for? Call Patriot Mobile today and make a
difference every single day with every call you make. Patriot
Mobile dot com slash Ferguson. That's Patriot Mobile dot com
slash ferguson or nine seven to two Patriot. And if
(03:42):
you use the promo code Ferguson, you're gonna get a
free month of service on top of that. Patriot Mobile
dot com slash Ferguson or nine seven two Patriot. That's
Patriot Mobile dot com slash ferguson or ninety seven to
two Patriot. It's the forty seven Morning Update and it
starts right now.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
He's number one.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
I want to talk about some new news and data
that is coming out that is going to shock or
should shock every American.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Unfortunately the media is refusing to cover it.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
ICE arrest are happening at record pace, and it's not
just random people. ICE has now arrested over two hundred
illegal alien child sex offenders in the Houston, Texas area alone.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
I want to say that again.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
ICE has arrested over two hundred illegal alien child sex
offenders in Houston alone, not the country, not the state
of Texas, in one city. This coming from US Immigration
and Customs Enforcement saying it this way. US Immigration and
Customs Enforcement has arrested two hundred and fourteen illegal aliens
(04:48):
for immigration offenses in the Houston area who have been
charged or convicted of a sex offense involving a minor.
The two hundred and fourteen arrests were more than the
Houston filled off arrested during the entire twenty twenty four
fiscal year when officers they are arrested two hundred and
eleven illegal aliens charged or convicted of child sex offenses.
(05:11):
The surge and arrests over the last six months of
illegal aliens charged with they're convicted of child sex offenses
a direct result of a whole of government approach implemented
under the Trump administration that has now led to the
establishment of multi agency targeting teams in each area of responsibility.
(05:32):
Now these teams conduct daily enhanced immigration enforcement operations targeting
the worst of the worst criminal aliens, something that the
President promised when he was running for president and yes
making good on that promise. They are targeting the worst
the worst criminal aliens for one reason arrest and then
(05:52):
the second reason is removal. In Southeast Texas, those efforts
have resulted in an increase in arrests of all quote
dangerous criminal aliens, leading to safer communities, stronger national security,
and enhance border security as well, saying this, bringing together
the resources and expertise of the entire federal law enforcement
(06:14):
community to confront the overwhelming surge of illegal immigration that
we saw over the past four years has resulted in
the arrest and removal of historic numbers of violent criminal aliens,
transnational gang members, and child sex offenders. That is what
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Acting Field Director Paul
(06:35):
McBride said his statement.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
He continued by saying this.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
While we still have a long way to go to
truly get this crisis under control, the strides we have
made in just the last six months to make our
local communities safer are substantial, and our officers continue to
work tirelessly every day to get the worst of the
worst criminal aliens out of Southeast Texas to return our
communities to places we can all enjoy now. Among the
(07:00):
aliens that were charged or convicted of a child sex
offense who were arrested by the ICE Houston Field Office
in the past six months, here are some of the worst.
A man by the name of Jesus Gutierrez. He was
a sixty seven year old, three times deported criminal alien
from Mexico, He was arrested March to twenty eight and
has been convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
(07:22):
He's also been convicted of driving while intoxicated. ICE removed
the man to Mexico April the fourth. George Zebra, a
forty eight year old criminal alien from Mexico, was arrested
March to twenty first. He's now been convicted of not one,
but two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a miner
in sexual indecency with a miner. ICE has removed him
(07:44):
to Mexico March to twenty fourth as well. Manuel Antonio Castro,
a thirty seven year old, has also a rap sheet
twice deported criminal alien, this time from Al Salvador. He
was arrested July the eighteenth and has been convicted of
sexual assault of a mina and twice for ilegal re entry.
He remains in ICE custody, pinning his third removal to
(08:05):
El Salvador. Jose Mesa is a forty year old four
time deported criminal alien from Mexico who has yet again
arrested June the twenty fourth. He's been convicted of theft
and sexual assault of a child. ICE removed the man
to Mexico June the twenty fifth. Sergio Rolando, a forty
five year old three time deported criminal alien from Mexico
(08:26):
who has arrested June the twelfth, has been convicted of
DWI and aggravated sexual assault of a child. He's been
removed to Mexico July the fourteenth. Now you look at
the difference now between what's happening and over the last
four years, federal law enforcement agencies have been contributed to
the multi agency targeting teams, including the Houston Office of
(08:49):
the FBI, the Houston Office of the ATF, the Houston
Office of the DA, and the US Customs and Border Protection,
as well as the Diplomats Security Services and the US
Marshall Service. You add in state and local law enforcement
agencies that have also assisted ice. You look at this
and this I go back to what I said is
just in one city, two hundred and fourteen illegal aliens
(09:11):
have been arrested for immigration offense in the Houston area
in the past six months, and they've been charged or
convicted of sex offenses involving miners.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Now, story number two.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
I want to take you back in history for just
a moment. You may remember when President Donald Trump ran
for office, one of the things he promised what he
was going to clean up waste fraud and abuse. Now,
when did our government get really big into waste fraud
and abuse. A lot of it actually happened when President
Barack Obama was in office, because he understood that it's
(09:44):
easier to buy votes than to convince people to vote
for you for actual policy reasons. You may remember the
perfect example of buying votes, a woman that became famous
for her reason for voting for Barack Obama over a
guy by the name of min Romney. Let me be clear,
I'm not advocating for voting for Mitt Romney for anything.
(10:04):
We now know what a disaster he was, but at
the time, he obviously was willing to do a lot
better job for this country than Barack Obama. Insert September
twenty six of twenty twelve and the famous woman who
loved her Obama phone.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
Wama, you got Obama phone? Yes, everybody in Cleveland. Oh
my Nordy got Obama.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Fault.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
Keep a woman president. You know he gave us a phone.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Give you a phone. Far Let he give you a phone.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
If you signed up, if you'ring you a full steps.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
You aw secial.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Charity, you got low income.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
You disability?
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Okay, what's wrong with Romney again?
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Romney?
Speaker 4 (10:42):
He sucks. There it is.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
The woman made it clear, you can buy my vote.
The Obama phone was real, and it was a way
to buy votes. And the Democratic Party was giving out
those Obama phones and free sales service each and every month.
Well fast to where we are today, and we know
a lot more about how corrupt the program actually was.
The Obama phones. It was also a big scam. And
(11:09):
a Florida ceo is now headed to prison and has
been ordered to pay one hundred and twenty eight million
dollars in fines after quote defrauding the government. And we're
also being told this may be the tip of the iceberg.
The owner of a Florida telecommunications company will spend the
next five years in prison. That's it, only five years,
(11:34):
and his firm must pay a hefty fine regarding the
Obama phone scam. Q Link Wireless LLC and its owner
identified as a CEO isa Asade, previously pled guilty to
conspiring to commit wired fraud and still federal funds from
the Lifeline program that originally began in the nineteen eighties
(11:55):
to offer home phone service to those that were in
needs so they could call nine one one. Well, the
program offered subsidized cell phone service, then to lower income people,
and then free phones. And in that twenty twelve video,
you had that protester emerging outside of Mitt Rodney event
who claimed her neighborhood received then Obama phone. Everybody's got one,
(12:17):
every minority. When asked why she supported Obama, the woman said,
everybody in Cleveland, low minority got Obama phones. Keep Obama
and President you know, he gave us the phone. He's
gonna do more.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Now.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
This clip was really the first time many Americans ever
heard about the abuse in this program, and the name
Obama Phone caught on after the video went viral. Some
telecommunications companies with Lifeline contracts embraced the term as a
marketing ploy. The government, by the way, did not go
back to twenty thirteen, bright bart News reported the opposition
(12:53):
to the Lifeline program was growing, as Track Phone Wireless,
the company that most benefited from the government's up c,
is now advertising on the inside the Beltway news websites
in an effort to quote unquote save it.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
You go to the Fox article and.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
It now says that Aside was sentenced to prison and he,
along with his company, must pay one hundred and twenty
eight million dollars in fines. In a press release on Friday,
the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida
shared more details about the case and just how bad
the fraud may be. Aside to fraud in another federal
government program that states, the Paycheck Protection Program, also known
(13:33):
as PPP, by making false statements about q Link's business,
Congress you may remember created PPP and it was filled
with Wayte's fraud and abuse during the COVID nineteen pandemic
to authorize forgivable loans of small businesses for job retention
as well as quote other expenses. Aside the q links
name executed a fraudulent scheme to obtain and.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
Keep PPP proceeds.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
To further the scheme, Aside May's false statements about Qlink's business,
including a false claim that qln's Lifeline reimbursement substantially decreased
because of the pandemic. Aside then in twenty twenty one,
engaged in an unlawful financial transaction involving approximately three hundred
and eighty nine thousand of those proceeds, Aside spent PvP
(14:21):
loan proceeds on a land Rover, payment, his personal AMEX card, jewelry,
and personal property taxes. Aside was reportedly charged with murder
several years ago in connection with driving over a grounds
keeper at his business, per another Fox article. He later
pleaded no contest to misdemeanor culporable negligence and was slapped
(14:44):
with one year of probation in order to pay just
a one hundred and twenty five dollars fine. The outlet said,
proof if you've got really good lawyers, you can get
away with a hell of a lot. As for the
Obama phone scam, for the CEO at least is headed
to prison and we'll pay, in theory one hundred and
twenty eight million dollars in fines for defrauding the American taxpayer.
(15:07):
But is this program still going yes? Is the program
still corrupt as hell?
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Yes? And is it time that the.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Trump administration look into it? You better believe it, And
there's a very good chance that's exactly what's happening right now.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Thank you for listening to the forty seven Morning Update
with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever
you're listening to this podcast right now and for more
in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast
and we will see you back here tomorrow
Host
Ben Ferguson
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