US Justice Department Charges Icon Telecom Owner, Former Associate

The owner and former associate of a wireless cell phone company, based out of Oklahoma City, are facing charges for fraudulent claims against the government-subsidized federal lifeline telephone program. 

Icon Telecom, or Icon Wireless, was operating out of an unassuming building in Oklahoma City. According to federal documents, Icon began offering government subsidized cell phone service just two years ago.

9 Investigates did some of its own digging into the company in July 2013.  

7/1/2013 Related Story: Oklahoma Company Makes Millions Off Government Cell Phones Despite Red Flags

The owner of Icon is Wesley Chew of Edmond. The former associate who is also facing charges has been identified as Oscar Enrique Perez-Zumeta of Cancun, Mexico.

Dan Webber, legal counselor for Wesley Chew and Icon Telecom, released the following statement regarding Wednesday's announcement:

 "Mr. Chew and his company voluntarily refunded over 5.7 million dollars to the Lifeline program and have been cooperating with the investigation for almost a year.  He wants to make appropriate amends and put this matter behind him."

Learn more about the charges by clicking the links below.

U.S. v Chew and Icon Telecom

U.S. v Perez-Zumaeta