Sen. McCaskill calls for criminal charges for 'Obamaphone' cheats

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) called for criminal charges to be filed against people who defrauded a federal phone subsidy program.

Sen McCaskill sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, urging the agency to refer examples of fraud in its Lifeline program to the Justice Department for prosecution. "Knowingly providing false information to a government agency for profit must be investigated. If these companies are found in violation of federal law, I expect the DOJ will prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law," she wrote. She also urged the FCC to more aggressively use its own enforcement authority to fine companies abusing the program. She warned that Congress could kill the program unless the FCC institutes tough new reforms.