When the 29-year-old recently walked out of a courthouse, she held an umbrella to try to keep a TV camera crew from getting images of her face. She and her companion repeatedly told the reporter to “get out of my face” and said she would not answer any questions.
Perhaps it doesn’t matter if she answers questions outside of a courtroom. Inside the court, she admitted that she had been part of a debt collection scheme that relied on abusive tactics to coerce people into paying; sometimes when they did not even owe any money.
The $3 million scheme was described by federal officials in North Carolina as one that “that targeted victims throughout the country.”
The woman outside a Charlotte courtroom entered a guilty plea to wire fraud and mail fraud conspiracy for her role in the debt collection scam.
“Their shake-down tactics included harassing the victims’ friends and families until they received payment,” the prosecutor said in a statement. “We caution the public to be vigilant when receiving calls in which the caller uses threatening language.”
An FBI agent added that it is hard for many people to pay their bills in full on time. They certainly don’t deserve to have abusive debt collectors trying to prey on them. “The FBI is working to uncover these fraudulent companies and hold those accountable for their predatory and criminal actions,” the agent said.
You can fight back against debt collection abuse by contacting a Philadelphia consumer protection attorney experienced in protecting your rights and your money.