The consumers were assured that there was no out-of-pocket cost associated with the interest rate reduction program. Consumers were also guaranteed that their monthly payments would be no higher than their current monthly payments on their credit card accounts. The consumers were told that they would become debt-free much faster, typically three to five times faster, than they would without the program. The telemarketers claimed they had a special relationship with the creditors which would allow them to negotiate lower rates on the consumers’ behalf. Consumers who pressed “1” were connected to a live telemarketer, who used a script promising to substantially lower the consumers' credit card interest rates and save the consumers thousands of dollars in interest payments. Consumers were either greeted by a pre-recorded message instructing them to “press 1 now” if they would like to have their credit card interest rates lowered or directly solicited by a live telemarketer offering to lower the consumers' credit card interest rates. Using various company names, the defendants initiated automated telephone calls to consumers throughout the United States to promote the sale of the so-called credit card interest rate reduction program. BRITTANY DUNPHY, 40, of Orlando, Florida, was sentenced to 1 year, 3 months in prison.Īccording to United States Attorney Yates, the indictment, the charges, and evidence at trial: Starting in 2008 and continuing through December 2009, defendants ADAMS, EYER, SCHOENHOLZ and DUNPHY conspired to defraud consumers with “credit card interest rate reduction” programs through a variety of schemes and companies. JAMES ADOLPH SCHOENHOLZ, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 2 years, 6 months in prison. JASON JAMES EYER (ADAMS’ husband), 36, of Marietta, was sentenced to 10 years, 6 months in prison. Three co-defendants had already been convicted and were sentenced on January 6, 2012, for crimes related to the fraud scheme. Specifically, ADAMS was found guilty on 9 counts of wire fraud, 7 counts of structuring financial transactions and 2 counts of conspiracy. ADAMS was convicted of these charges on November 7, 2011, after a two-week long trial. Our Postal Inspectors tracked them down, and the detailed evidence we gathered helped to hang up their phones, once and for all.”ĪDAMS was sentenced to 17 years, 6 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,030,000. United States Postal Inspector in Charge Keith Morris said, “These aggressive telemarketers were criminals hiding behind a phone, and their key sales pitch was aimed at people who were already having financial problems. Adams will now spend 17 years in prison for defrauding these victims of their hard-earned money.” United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “The defendant’s businesses preyed on consumers who were in debt and wanted to reduce their credit card payments. on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, structuring, and obstruction, as part of a multi-million dollar telemarketing fraud scheme. ATLANTA, GA - KARA SINGLETON ADAMS, 40, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to federal prison today by United States District Judge Charles A.
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