Huge Efforts by US Government officials to crack down on view as unscrupulous debt collection practices have entered the courtroom. A Georgia man is on trial for a Debt Collection scheme that state prosecutors say more than 6,000 people nationwide.
In the opening of the trial of John Williams, aged 50, officials wasted no time in outlining the case against the defendant. State Prosecutors told jurors in a Manhattan court that the Agency Boss encouraged employees at his debt collection firm, Williams, Scott & Associates LLC, to harass debtors and force them into paying money they did not owe.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Paul told the court that Williams, Scott & Associates defrauded over 6,000 customers in a period of 5 years. Approximately $4.1 million was paid due to misrepresenting how much the debtors owed and falsely claiming they could face prison time if payment demands were not met.
“The defendant did all of this so he could make money — millions of dollars for himself,” she said.
Williams has pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit fraud. His Defence lawyer, Mark DeMarco, requested that jurors put aside their emotions as they heard evidence about his extremely unethical practices.
A total of 6 Williams, Scott & Associates employees were arrested last November along with Williams and 3 of those have already pleaded guilty to their charges and are expected to testify against Williams.
Prosecutors said these employees contacted debtors and falsely claimed to be ‘Detectives’ from local Police Departments or investigators on behalf of Governments Agencies. Even after the raid last year, Williams immediately set up a new Debt Collection Agency adopting similar misleading and illegal tactics.
The case is listed under U.S vs Williams U.S District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 14-cr-00784
The trail continues but is not expected to last too long given the sheer weight of evidence to support the prosecutors claims.
