Charlotte man pleads guilty in national multi-million debt collection scheme

A Charlotte man pleaded guilty in a national multi-million debt collection scheme Thursday.

John Wayne Perry Jr. owned RJ Financial, a debt collection company which Federal prosecutors said tricked thousands of people out of more than $3 million combined.

Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke was there when Perry pleaded guilty. Click here to watch his Facebook Live.

Prosecutors said the business used harassing and abusive tactics to coerce people to pay money which, in many cases, they didn't owe.

Perry faces up to 20 years behind bars.

Six defendants face charges in this case. Perry is the second to plead guilty.

Miranda Bailey was the first.

Stoogenke questioned Bailey Live on Facebook as she left court last month.

You can see that post on Stoogenke's Facebook page.

**WARNING: The video contains graphic gestures and language**

This $3 million debt collection scheme is related to a $6 million scheme Stoogenke followed for about two years.

That company was called Berkeley Hughes and Associates.

Last month, the owner, Cedric Clark, was sentenced to three and a half years behind bars.

Cox Media Group