Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Man Arrested for Not Paying $1500 Worth of Old Federal Loans by US Marshals in Houston

A lot of you have asked me if I have heard about this story that was reported out of Houston, Texas. Yes, it was the first thing I read this morning - I read all news related to student loans, and this one is getting a lot of attention, and for good reasons.

I have thoughts about it, and will post shortly.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

While it certainly is absolutely ridiculous and scary, I'm thinking this isn't just a guy who missed two payments and then the marshals came busting through his door. Wouldn't you think he ignored mail, missed court dates, basically ignored it until it came to this completely over-the-top and unnecessary conclusion?

Again, I'm not siding with the government, just pointing out that this probably doesn't happen to most people with loans.

Cryn Johannsen said...

I am looking into it. But why do the lenders get away with stealing upwards of $1 billion and never get arrested? That is the question.

Cryn Johannsen said...

They never get brought before judges.

Anonymous said...

From the article comments, so take with a grain of salt:

"A check of the docket of the U.S. District Court, Southern
District of Texas shows that Winford Paul Aker was arrested for his
failure to appear in court as ordered by the judge. The docket shows
that several attempts were made to have him appear as ordered, and the
court finally issued a bench warrant for his failure to appear. He was
not arrested for failure to pay his debt. And, by the way, he was
ordered to reimburse the court for the cost of sending marshals to
compel his appearance."

Sounds plausible. They'll do the same for failure to appear for unpaid taxes. But, still, doesn't really seem worth the $1500.

Anonymous said...

Of course, there's the real possibility that he never knew of the court case and the court can put anything in its records saying that a good faith effort was made to get him into court.

Anonymous said...

He was arrested for an FTA. Not for refusing to pay a debt. A court has to contact a debtor in many different ways and forms before issuing an FTA on a civil matter. If the court was lying about contact, it would have to be numerous and consistent. As far aslenders not being arrested for stealing billions Cryn, that is another discussion and different from this topic.

This article is nothing but sensationalism, fear mongering, and click bait.

Cryn Johannsen said...

@9:26 uh, the lenders stealing money and not being arrested and being dragged in front of a judge? I don't think that is for a "different discussion." It is highly relevant to these sorts of situations.

Anonymous said...

Cryn:

He was arrested for an FTA. Not for failure to pay his loans. Your comment about lenders stealing billions and not being held accountable has NOTHING to do with a man getting arrest for an FTA because he didn't follow a court's Order.

Anonymous said...

Get fucked up your fanny apologist

Cryn Johannsen said...

Also, so you are aware, the term "clickbait" is a perjorative term used when referring to attracting visitors to generate web advertising sales. I don't do that - I don't get any $ for producing material on AEM. This is done as a public service.

Anonymous said...

Not only is it a public service but a way for you to get your loans forgiven too!

Anonymous said...

Cryn, you are a phony.

Anonymous said...

It's obvious there was more going on, I agree with the anons above.

http://m.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/US-Marshals-say-man-wasn-t-arrested-because-he-6834620.php

Insisting that this guy was some victim and it can happen to anybody makes the whole student loan issue look like a joke. The emphasis has to be on honest people trying to pay back their loans that just can't do it, not crazy deadbeats like this guy.

Cryn Johannsen said...

Ah, yes. "Crazy deadbeats." Great analysis right there with an ad hominem.

Cryn Johannsen said...

@10:45 and now we have Holden weighing in!

Anonymous said...

Yes, he's a crazy deadbeat. He kept trying to dodge service, and when the US Marshal came he threatened them with a gun.

This is the guy you want representing the student loan borrowers? It makes the entire thing look like a joke.

Insisting on siding with this guy and ignoring the facts weakens your credibility considerably. I would strongly urge you to take a step back, look up the facts, and re-consider your stance.

Anonymous said...

it disgusts and saddens me that some of my fellow human beings have resorted to bullying the author of this blog over a political (and uninformed) opinion/stereotype about student loan debtors. I sincerely believed that there was some amount of good I every person. I am not so sure anymore.

This is frightening and it MUST stop. I don't care if the guy was a total deadbeat; there are not supposed to be debtor's prisons in the United States of America... Even if they are disguised as "failures to appear in court." We all know that documentation can be fabricated. My own lawyer told me that debt collectors do this all the time ON PURPOSE. They fail to notify a debtor that they are being sued, but tell the court that they did... Then they see to it that their victims are arrested. How is this use of taxpayer money better than the debtor not repaying it? How is it more justified?

It doesn't just happen with student debt, either. It can happen with any debt, so all of you mean people better hope that you never find yourselves in bad spots with your finances through no faults of your own... Because it could happen to you, too. By the way, shame on you for anonymously bullying someone who is doing a public good. This woman has saved lives. It seems that you rejoice in seeing lives destroyed. This speaks volumes to your character and invalidates YOUR opinions, not Cryn's!

We need to raise hell over this. This is a problem and MUST stop. I am officially voting for the democratic nominee. I don't agree with all things liberal, but this has put my independent self over the edge. Republicans have shown over and over that they have no concern over student loan debt. I can't take the risk of having a president who would let this kind of thing happen. On that note, Obama sure as hell better address this publicy. Years ago he swore to dedicate the rest of his presidency to solving the student debt crisis. All I have seen is more payment plans... And now an arrest. These "solutions" seem pretty one-sided to me.

-B