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.