A debt collection company is giving up $8.5 million in consumer debt under a settlement with the state of Georgia.

The Lawrenceville company, National Check Resolution Inc., illegally threatened consumers with imprisonment and garnishment of wages, according to the allegations in the settlement announced Wednesday.

Attorney General Chris Carr said the company repeatedly harassed and deceived consumers in violation of federal and state debt collection laws.

"Our office will hold debt collectors that try to coerce and intimidate consumers by employing abusive, deceptive and illegal tactics accountable," Carr said in a statement.

The company’s CEO, Samuel Tulumello, and its compliance manager, Rhonda Tulumello, denied engaging in unfair or deceptive acts, according to the settlement.

The company will cease collections on the $8.5 million in consumer debt and hand over 11,980 affected accounts to the Attorney General’s Office so they can’t be sold or collected on in the future.

About the Author

Keep Reading

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, shown here being interviewed for the “Politically Georgia” podcast in February, has emerged as one of the most forceful GOP critics of President Donald Trump and his allies. (Nathan Posner for the AJC)

Credit: Nathan Posner for the AJC

Featured

Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images