this week for attempting to sell 2,000 pills of oxycodone to a DEA informant, as well as his failure to file a tax return for 2008, the same year he won $500,000 for his part in the hit reality series. Jasinski is expected to draw a heavy prison term and faces a maximum of 14 years in federal prison, plus an additional one year related to the tax filing charge.
It’s been an up-and-down ride for Jasinski since he first appeared on the CBS show. He initially made headlines for calling children with autism "retards." Jasinski’s comments drew the ire from the autism and special needs communities and prompted multiple advertisers to withdrawal from the show. He was also fired from the now defunct United Autism Foundation, where he was working as a public relations representative.
According to reports, Jasinski used his show’s proceeds to bankroll his drug business. Former Season 9 house guest, Matthew McDonald was allegedly in on Jasinski’s distribution scheme and also faces similar prison time.
Ironically enough, immediately after winning his grand prize, Jasinski made a pledge on live TV to give away $100,000 to help children with autism and was later quoted in a Q&A session as saying, "Bottom line, I’ll help children, I’ll change lives; that’s why I’m on the show — period.”
Had Mr. Jasinski made good on his promise (we’re assuming he didn’t), it’s quite possible that he would have avoided this mess altogether.
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