Debt Buyer, Collector Sentenced To Five Years in Prison For Scamming Consumers

John Williams, who owned Williams, Scott & Associates was sentenced today to five years in prison for his role in shaking down more than 6,000 consumers nationwide.

Williams was also ordered by a Manhattan judge to repay $4 million for the point of making an example out of the defendant.

“There is a need to send a message that, ‘Hey, this is outrageous,'” the judge said, according to a published report.

Williams will get credit for the two years he has already served while awaiting trial

. He and his employees were accused of calling consumers, impersonating detectives or investigators with government agencies and threatened to have individuals arrested or sued if they did not make their payments.