$25 Million Stolen In Debt Relief Scheme

A Georgia man believed responsible for a debt relief scheme that defrauded consumers out of more than $25 million was arrested yesterday by federal agents.

Jason James Eyer, 34, of Marietta, Ga., voluntarily surrendered at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport after arriving from the Philippines. He, along with two others, were indicted Jan. 5 on charges that they operated a nationwide telemarketing scheme from 2008 until December 2009.

Eyer, Kara Singleton Adams, 38, and James A. Schoenholz, 37, both also of Marietta, conspired to defraud customers through a more than a dozen false companies, according to court documents.

Prosecutors say the defendants convinced customers via phone calls that they would be able to remove their debt faster than if they used programs organized by credit card companies. The three would promise to save customers thousands of dollars by negotiating lower credit card rates for a fee. Customers were told there was no out-of-pocket cost associated with the interest rate reduction plan, and that any cost would be paid for out of the savings the consumer would achieve. Almost immediately, customers' credit cards would be charged a range between $749 and $1,495.

Some of the company names used included: Economic Relief Technologies, SafeRide Warranty, VP Marketing, Clear Breeze Solutions, Express Debt Elimination, Capital Resources, A Better Tomorrow and Helping Hand Resources.

The indictment lists victims from 46 states. The defendants spent more than $20 million in a little over a year, prosecutors allege.

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