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David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 3 years ago on
June 11, 2022

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A Fresno man who ran a company that helped farm laborers is in big trouble with the federal government. Instead of helping with workers’ compensation needs, Marcus Asay helped himself to escorts and rent, a federal grand jury alleges.

Asay, 66, was chairman of American Labor Alliance. A four-count indictment charges him with cheating the federal government out of taxes — three counts of filing a false tax return — and one count of defrauding Social Security out of disability benefits.

He is accused of bilking Social Security for more than $90,000 in disability benefits, despite working for three years.

“Asay caused the organization (ALA) to pay for hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of personal expenses, including over $50,000 to dating and escort websites and $120,000 in rent for Asay’s personal residences,” stated a Friday news release from the Department of Justice.

If convicted, Asay faces up to three years in prison for each tax return count, and five years for the defrauding Social Security count. He also faces hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.

Asay and Former City Council Candidate Face Other Charges

Asay previously was charged with fraud and money laundering in another case related to alleged wrongdoing by ALA. He and his business partner Antonio Gastelum are accused of selling fake workers’ compensation policies.

They face trial in November.

Gastelum ran for Fresno City Council in November 2016, finishing third to eventual winner Luis Chavez. He is also a former city manager of Parlier.

Read the Current Indictment

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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