Issa Asad, 51, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to fraudulently using his Florida-based company, Q Link Wireless Inc., to obtain over $600 million in government subsidies through Lifeline, a program overseen by the Federal Communications Commission. Prosecutors determined that approximately $100 million of those funds were linked to false claims, Market Watch reports.
Since its inception in 1985, the Lifeline program has been plagued by fraud, with many customers not qualifying for the free phone and internet services it offers. Asad was among those who exploited this vulnerability, submitting falsified customer data to make it appear as though his company’s phones were being used enough to qualify for the government subsidy.
Prosecutors stated that Asad employed several tactics to legitimize the false claims, including pressuring customers to keep the service by falsely warning them that canceling could result in losing all their benefits. The company also manipulated usage data by repeatedly calling customers and using spoofed numbers to prompt them to answer.
Prosecutors revealed that alongside the Lifeline fraud, Asad also admitted to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds, which he used to finance the construction of a new home in Florida.
“Issa Asad and his company, Q Link Wireless, purposefully defrauded two critical federal programs helping individuals and businesses suffering financial hardship, unlawfully taking hundreds of millions of dollars for their use and profit, while obstructing the United States’ ability to help people who, unlike the defendants, needed it,” said Markenzy Lapointe, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Asad has been ordered to pay $109.6 million in restitution to the FCC and forfeit $17.5 million in personal assets. He will be sentenced in January 2025, where he could face up to 15 years in prison.
ROCKET COMMUNITY FUND WORKING WITH BUILT FOR ZERO TO MAKE HOMELESSNESS “RARE AND BRIEF”
Freddie Tucker was one of the first veterans to move into 211 Glendale, a recently renovated facility in the small city of Highland Park offering permanent housing to veterans.
Managed by the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, the facility was converted from shelter housing to permanent apartments through a combined $750,000 investment from the Rocket Community Fund and Home Depot Foundation. The project shows how transitional housing can be converted to help stop veteran homelessness and included 60 new apartments with kitchenettes and upgraded fixtures after opening last year.
Spike Lee Predicts New York Knicks Will Win NBA Championship This Season
'This is the year! We got the pieces, the team is hungry.'
Spike Lee, who was recently inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a SuperFan is giving his NBA team, the Knicks, the stamp of approval and believing that the New York City team will win the NBA championship. “It’s going to happen this year.”
During a conversation with The Associated Press, Spike, while acknowledging that the Boston Celtics are the current NBA champs, claimed that for the New York Knickerbockers this season, “This is our year.”
The Brooklyn filmmaker made his prediction while attending his induction ceremony into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery on Oct. 12 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
“The Boston Celtics are the world champions … but this, this is our year,” Spike told reporters. He reminded everyone that it’s been over 50 years since the Knicks won an NBA title. The last time the Knicks hoisted a banner for Madison Square Garden was in 1973.
From the four major sports (football, baseball, basketball, and hockey), the New York Jets, who won the Super Bowl in 1968, and the Knicks are the only NYC teams that haven’t won the championship title in 50 years.
“This is the year! We got the pieces, the team is hungry.
“A great coach, Leon Rose World Wide Wes doing their thing in the front office, and I just feel deep down, in my heart, it’s going to happen this year. This is the year! Barring injuries.”
Spike Lee confidently declared, “This is our year.” Lee is a longtime fan and he was in the arena when the Knicks won their first championship in 1970.”
Lee joined Billy Crystal (Los Angeles Clippers), Alan Horwitz (Philadelphia 76ers), and Los Angeles Lakers regular Jack Nicholson as official SuperFans in the James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery. The four latest inductees were added to previous inductees Penny Marshall (Los Angeles Clippers), Nav Bhatia (Toronto Raptors), and Jim Goldstein (Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers).
IKEA U.S. Unveils Redesigned LGBTQ+ Center At Howard University Homecoming
The collaboration with Howard University and local organizations underscores IKEA's long-standing dedication to inclusivity, empowerment, and creating spaces where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
IKEA U.S. has unveiled the newly redesigned Intercultural Affairs & LGBTQ+ Resource Room at Howard University, marking a significant contribution to inclusivity during the university’s iconic Homecoming Week (Oct. 13-20). The renovation will be officially celebrated at the Lavender Gala on Oct. 16, an annual event honoring the resilience and achievements of LGBTQ+ students and allies.
The Lavender Gala is a key moment in the Howard University community, showcasing pride and unity. This year, IKEA’s involvement elevates the event, emphasizing the importance of creating functional, inclusive spaces that allow students to thrive. The new resource room reflects IKEA’s dedication to supporting safe and welcoming environments for all students.
“At IKEA, we believe in creating spaces where everyone feels welcome and valued,” said Ciannie Rodriguez, IKEA U.S.’s Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion Manager. “Our collaboration with Howard University reflects our commitment to fostering inclusive environments and supporting the next generation of leaders.”
The redesigned LGBTQ+ Resource Room features a range of IKEA products chosen for their versatility and style. Key items include the BESTÅ storage units, KALLAX shelving, and BOAXEL wall-mounted systems, all of which provide practical solutions for organizing the space. Additional touches such as GRÖNFJÄLL seating and BORGHAMN handles create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.
IKEA’s impact extends beyond Howard University, with ongoing contributions to the wider Washington, D.C. community. In partnership with the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC), IKEA provides interior design and furnishings for three youth centers. One of these centers, Stages, serves as a sanctuary for displaced LGBTQ+ youth, furthering IKEA’s commitment to supporting underserved communities.
The collaboration with Howard University and local organizations underscores IKEA’s long-standing dedication to inclusivity, empowerment, and creating spaces where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
This NYC Chef Is Mixing Up Her Own Food Empire While Serving Haitian Pride
As the Haitian immigrant community has become a target of prejudiced attacks, Guillaume sees her mission as being more important than ever.
Medegine Guillaume is steadily making a name for herself in the food industry. This Harlem-born, Haitian-American chef wants to spread the beauty of her heritage while making healthiness a priority.
The esteemed member 2023 James Beard Cohort already has a lot on her plate. As an event manager for Columbia University and its dining department, Guillaume is up around 3:30 am before she heads to the Ivy League institution to start her work day.
Her entry into the culinary arts was not a childhood passion. It was sparked by the struggles she saw local, diverse restaurants go through. Now, her inspiration extends beyond successful entrepreneurship, to shine a light on the cuisine of her Haitian immigrant community. As this group has become a recent target of prejudice-fueled attacks, Guillaume sees her mission as all the more important.
The Culinary Institute of America-trained chef spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE about being a pioneer for diversity and equity in the culinary sphere, and how this fuels her to show a different perspective of her heritage.
Guillaume wears many hats beyond her chef’s one at Columbia University, taking numerous opportunities outside her typical 9-to-5. She’s set to participate as a featured chef for the NFL’s fundraising event for the new Super Bowl weekend. Before then, she’s preparing her first-ever pop-up in Philly this month.
However, this direction toward the culinary arts came from experiencing quality food while studying abroad in Paris.
“So I say to everyone that I never dreamt of being a chef, that was never my goal,” Guillaume says. “I never thought I would go to culinary school and cook anything like I grew up with. My mom cooked, but then we had KFC back in the day. That was like our thing, yeah. We weren’t making fresh ingredients in the way people are doing things now, or eating healthy.”
While venturing to find mom-and-pop restaurants that offered diverse foods from the Caribbean, she noticed these eateries were not operating at their fullest capacity.
“After a while I was like, I’m gonna open up a restaurant. And then I’ve heard horror stories of people saying that, ‘Oh, like the chef walked out on the line,’ or maybe you don’t get respect from your crew, because you don’t know what you’re doing yourself. So then I say, ‘Let me try it and go to culinary school so I can learn the technique properly’… I’m going to be the change that I want to see, that’s not represented in my community, or even well-represented in other areas.”
This personal mission eventually merged into a political message. After Donald Trump spouted false accusations regarding a Haitian community’s eating habits in Springfield, Ohio, Guillaume believe prejudiced stereotypes like these make her work so important.
“That’s exactly why I became a chef because I don’t want that narrative out there,” she said. “That’s not what we’re about. Our food is delicious. Our cuisine is great if you’ve had it, if you had the pleasure of having it. So that fuels me up even more to go about what I’m trying to accomplish. And this is why, most recently, I’ve been doing all these things. I’m seeing you guys, all these opportunities to kind of spread that message that that’s not what Haiti is about. Haiti is a beautiful country. Haitian people are hardworking, and they don’t deserve any of that nonsense.”
Preparing culinary delights from her native country, Guillaume, a Harlem native, found her voice, stating her opportunity, which the James Beard Foundation fueled her to advocate through this medium.
“I think that we’re coming together, especially a lot of us, other Haitian chefs,” she explained. “They are putting dinners together. They are forming groups and things like that to see how we can combat it and share a different message. I think that’s what we’ve been able to do so far. I mean, I know there’s been rallies and things of that nature, but it has put fuel on my back to go for it and show like I said, a different perspective.”
Beyond inspiring the next era of Black revolutionary chefs, what’s next in her journey? Her restaurant –with a Haiti-ingrained menu—and an Asian fusion. Guillaume is in the planning stages for her biggest goal. However, she believes all her experiences thus far have prepared her for it.
“I know that when I went to school, it was very challenging for me because there weren’t a lot of us that looked like us. I worked harder to practice a technique I needed to learn, but I realized after graduation that you need to have that tough skin. It needs to have that mindset. My goals were not deterred by what anybody said or what I felt like my abilities were, even if I doubted myself, it didn’t stop me from pushing forward and meeting people and cooking and working …”
She attributes this wisdom to fellow chefs who inspire her, including Chef Fariyal at Hav & Mar, a seafood house in New York City established by Marcus Samuelsson.
“The people I learned from encouraged me as well to push forward and to do things right and then to know that I can do it. It was very challenging to execute food prep and do all this stuff and then have service, but they showed me how to do it properly. Then after a while, like, ‘Oh, I can do this. I can do it with my eyes closed.’”
Georgia Judge Blocks Hand-Count Rule After NAACP Challenge
To safeguard voting rights, the organization has committed $20 million to mobilize over 14.5 million voters ahead of the election.
In a pivotal decision, Judge Robert McBurney of Fulton County, Georgia, ruled in favor of the NAACP’s demand to halt a controversial new “Hand-Count Rule.”
The rule, proposed by the Georgia State Elections Board, would have required ballots to be counted by hand following the Nov. 5 election. The NAACP and its partners filed a motion to intervene, asserting that the rule was an effort to undermine the electoral process.
The ruling marked a major victory for the longstanding organization engaged in numerous election-related lawsuits nationwide. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision but emphasized that the fight for voting rights is far from over.
“The NAACP is proud to see this judge follow the law and hand down a ruling aligned with the National Voting Rights Act,” Johnson told Black Enterprise. “But make no mistake, this is not the end. Across the country, radicalized politicians are attempting to subvert the law to suppress votes. We won’t stop until every vote is counted and every voice is heard.”
Gerald Griggs, president of the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP, echoed the sentiment.
“Yesterday’s historic early voter turnout and this important ruling should serve as a reminder — nothing will stop the Black vote. The Georgia State Conference of the NAACP works tirelessly to educate, engage, and mobilize our community while protecting our access to the ballot box. This year is no different.”
The ruling arrives as the NAACP continues its legal battles in multiple states, with three lawsuits active in Georgia. To safeguard voting rights, the organization has committed $20 million to mobilize over 14.5 million voters ahead of the election.
The court’s decision’s timing underscores the importance of safeguarding democratic processes in the face of growing concerns about voter suppression tactics. As the nation gears up for the 2024 election, the NAACP remains at the forefront of defending the rights of Black voters and ensuring fair elections across the country.
Medical Insurance Premiums May Hurt Your Pockets In 2025, Report Finds
Americans using employee-sponsored insurance plans can expect to see increases in premiums, co-pays, and deductibles.
Employees can expect to see a significant jump in their healthcare premiums next year. According to consulting firm WTW, U.S. employers project their healthcare costs will increase by 7.7% in 2025, compared with 6.9% in 2024 and 6.5% in 2023.
On average, employers subsidize approximately 83% of healthcare costs, and employees pick up the remaining balance. According to consulting firm Mercer, 53% of the employers surveyed plan to shift these expenses to employees. Workers can expect to see increases in premiums, co-pays, and deductibles next year. The cost per employee is expected to increase by approximately 5.8% in 2025.
Open enrollment season is upon us. If you are one of the millions of Americans who receive healthcare coverage through your employer, now may be a good time to reevaluate your coverage. Here are some factors that you should consider before choosing a plan.
Gary Kushner, chair and president of Kushner & Company, a benefits design and management company, says that employees should ask themselves the following questions :
“Am I a low-, medium- or high-claims family? Did I have an incident that required acute care or basically lots of preventative care?” Kushner told CNBC.
If you usually only go to the doctor for a yearly check-up, you may be able to choose the high-deductible plan with a lower monthly cost.
Employees with high deductible premiums could use their employer’s health savings account benefits. To take advantage of an HSA, one must have an eligible high-deductible health plan. The IRS defines high-deductible as not less than $1,650 for self-only coverage or $3,300 for family coverage.
As medical costs continue to increase, HSAs can help to manage out-of-pocket expenses. Any unused funds will roll over to the following year.
Additionally, experts advise employees to take advantage of voluntary benefits such as gym discounts, childcare assistance, stress management, and financial coaching. These benefits can not only help relieve financial stress but also improve work-life balance and overall health outcomes.
Floyd Mayweather Investing $402M With Black Spruce Management
Floyd Mayweather is investing into a 1,000-unit affordable housing portfolio with more than 60 buildings in Manhattan.
Undefeated retired boxer Floyd Mayweather has reportedly struck a deal to go into business with Black Spruce Management.
According to The Real Deal, Mayweather is investing $402 million into a 1,000-unit affordable housing portfolio with more than 60 buildings in Manhattan, the heart of New York City. The deal was reportedly made with Josh Gotlib of Black Spruce Management. Black Spruce or Mayweather released no details or comments at this time. However, the media outlet stated that the multifamily deal for properties is concentrated in Upper Manhattan and would be one of the city’s biggest deals this year.
A portion of the portfolio was closed on Oct. 17, with the remainder of the deal expected to close in the fourth quarter or early first quarter of 2025.
In 2021, Black Spruce was working to recapitalize a 1,800-unit Article XI deal. They planned to make it happen by selling a stake in the 97 buildings, which are also mostly in Upper Manhattan and comprise six portfolios. The firm planned to sell a 49.9% stake that would value the deal at $700 million.
Money flows like water with Mayweather, as it was recently reported that the former pugilist purchased four luxury timepieces for one million dollars. Not one to be outdone, when he found out that luxury watch designer Avi & Co was debuting a new collection of watches, he was primed to buy one. Yet, after viewing the four timepieces in the collection, he decided to just purchase the whole set.
Each one cost $250,000, which set him back $1 million. By doing so, he became the first person to own all four watches in the Avi & Co Hue collection.
“It’s hard to choose one watch; they are all exceptional timepieces. I am proud of Avi and support him. He is my friend, and if I want to hang out with him, I can. You can’t do that with the owner of Rolex or AP (Audemars Piguet).”
BioLab Community Assistance Center Turns Away Residents
BioLab continues damage control for Sept. 29 fire.
BioLab, in Conyers, Georgia, continues to deal with the fallout from the fire in its facilities on Sept. 29. The manufacturing facility is attempting to help Rockdale County residents by opening a Community Assistance Center, due to overwhelming numbers, hundreds were turned away, Atlanta News First reported.
Residents were reportedly told they could schedule appointments or walk-in to the facility. The center opened Oct. 15; still the lines and wait times are seen as excessive by some residents.
“They said it’s a first come, first serve basis, but a lot of these people have been out here since 7 a.m. this morning, first come first serve is not true,” Ericka Sanson said.
Sanson is attempting to file a claim for lost wages. Because of the toxic fumes Sanson was unable to work. She estimates 200 people were turned away from the facility.
The United States Census Bureau states the county is home to 93,570 residents. The official guidance from BioLab, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and Rockdale County, also known as Unified Command, states residents should set an appointment at the outreach center or call the official hotline.
Long lines seems to be the least of BioLabs issues. BLACK ENTERPRISE reported on the class action lawsuit filed only a day after the fire. Residents are concerned about not only environmental impacts they are also concerned about the health implications.
Charmine Hall-Perez is one such resident. Hall-Perez is the mother of one-year-old Ivan Perez, spoke with 11 Alive News. The new mom lives 5.3 miles away from the facility and was driving down Interstate 20 when the plumes were thick in the air. Ivan was born six weeks premature with “weak lungs.”
“The smoke might not be there anymore, but nobody has told us what the long-term effects would be of this, especially on a premature lung,” she said.
“I don’t know what is going on, and because I don’t know and I don’t have answers, I don’t know how to move forward with this.”
Though she went to the hospital as a result of “itchy throat” and “coughing,” her medical records do not note any chemical exposure.
Hall-Perez will remain vigilant for the future implications of the fire on her and Ivan’s long- term health.
“As a mom, my job is to make sure my son is happy, healthy and safe,” she told 11 Alive.
“We sacrificed a lot as new parents in order to protect him because he is our future.”
ATL District Attorney Fani Willis Seeks Reinstatement Of Donald Trump Solicitation Charges
Fulton County District Attorney's Office "said what they said."
Fulton County District Attorney’s office seeks reinstatement of six charges in former President Donald Trump’s Georgia election fraud case, The Hill reported. The charges are levied against Donald Trump and five of his co-defendants. Three of the six charges are specific to Trump. District Attorney Fani Willis contends the charge of “solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer” is appropriate and applicable to the state’s case. The state takes exception with Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee’s ruling to throw out the charges.
“The trial court erred by requiring the State to plead with specific details as to the target crime of violation of oath by a public officer, which is not required for a charge of solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer,” the stated added.
The charges Fulton County District Attorney’s Office is attempting to reinstate reference the claims by Trump that the Georgia election votes were fraudulent. After the 2020 election polls closed, Trump was recorded attempting to convince Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” more votes.
Despite audio evidence of the solicitation, Judge McAfee dismissed the charges. The judge’s ruling on the indictment admits there are sufficient grounds to proceed, but Judge McAfee determined that the indictment did not include enough detail.
McAfee stated, “The Court’s concern is less that the State has failed to allege sufficient conduct of the Defendants -– in fact, it has alleged an abundance,” McAfee wrote at the time.
“However, the lack of detail concerning an essential legal element is, in the undersigned’s opinion, fatal.”
Assistant District Attorney Alex Bernick argued the indictment contains the evidence required to sustain the charge.
“These details, which amount to far more than a barebones recitation of the statutory elements for the crime of solicitation, clearly gave Cross-Appellees enough information to prepare their defense intelligently by telling them precisely what they were alleged to have done, when, and to whom,” Bernick said.
The case against Trump and 18 named codefendants has been ongoing for the past year; the trial began in August 2023. The proceedings have been marred with controversy. The trial was put on hold earlier this year when Willis was accused of having a conflict of interest regarding the hiring of her romantic partner, Nathan Wade.
Willis denied any wrongdoing and was vindicated when Judge McAfee ruled in her favor, finding no conflict of interest existed but the appearance of conflict. This ruling led to Wade’s removal from the election fraud case, which resumed in March 2024.
