http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...le-not-paying-student-loans-article-1.2533153
Houston man arrested by seven U.S. Marshals for not paying $1,500 student loan from 1987
BY DAVID BOROFF
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Updated: Tuesday, February 16, 2016, 4:10 PM
Seven U.S. Marshals armed with automatic weapons arrested a Texas man for not paying a $1,500 student loan from three decades ago, he claims.
Paul Aker said he was surprised at his Houston home on Thursday by seven people in combat gear.
"They grabbed me, they threw me down," the 48-year-old Aker told the Daily News on Tuesday. "Local PD is just standing there."
Aker said he didn't receive any notice or warning about the loan, which he received in 1987 at Prairie View A&M University.
He said he noticied a suspicious truck in front of his house on Thursday morning, and when someone approached, he ran back into the house. Later that morning, a bunch of armed Marshals with combat weapons showed up at his door.
"I say, 'What is this all about?'" Aker told The News. "They say, 'Shut up, you know what this is all about.' I don't have a clue."
When Aker continued to ask, they continued to say "you know what this is all about," he said.
Eventually he was told it was about a 30-year-old student loan.
"You could have sent me a letter. You could have called me," Aker said.
The U.S. Marshals said later in court that they had the firepower because Aker had a gun, but he disputes that.
"But you were already at my door," he said. "It was because they knew I was a registered gun owner.
"It's out of control. Out of control," he continued. What if they had seen a gun on me? They would have shot me for 1,500 bucks."
FOX26
Paul Aker was arrested in his Texas home by U.S. Marshals with automatic weapons for not paying his student loans, he claims.
Aker said he was put in the back of a truck and placed in a cell at the federal building in downtown Houston. Later, he was brought to court, where a "prosecutor," county clerk and judge were present. Aker said the prosecutor was actually a collection lawyer.
"Then I get a lecture (from the judge) about the United States and stealing from the government," Aker said.
Aker told The News that he was ordered to pay $5,700 for the loan, including interest. However, Aker was also ordered to pay for the cost of the morning arrest — nearly $1,300. If he didn't pay that amount by March 1, he said, he was told he would be arrested again.
The average student loan debt for 2015 graduates is approximately $35,000, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Aker said he was never read his rights during the ordeal. He is in the process of finding a lawyer.
"I am still shaken," he said. "I had to go to work yesterday, and it was hard to drive to work, for the fear of someone coming. I am looking out the window and I have things to do today, and I am still afraid to go outside."
Amazingly, U.S. Marshals are planning to serve up to 1,500 warrants to people who have not repaid their loans, according to Fox 26.
Texas Rep. Gene Green, a Democrat, said it's worrisome that lawyers and debt collectors are able to use U.S. Marshals as muscle to collect these loans.
"There's bound to be a better way to collect on a student loan debt that is so old," Green told told Fox 26.
A call to the U.S. Marshals has not yet been returned.
dboroff@nydailynews.com
Houston man arrested by seven U.S. Marshals for not paying $1,500 student loan from 1987
BY DAVID BOROFF
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Updated: Tuesday, February 16, 2016, 4:10 PM
Seven U.S. Marshals armed with automatic weapons arrested a Texas man for not paying a $1,500 student loan from three decades ago, he claims.
Paul Aker said he was surprised at his Houston home on Thursday by seven people in combat gear.
"They grabbed me, they threw me down," the 48-year-old Aker told the Daily News on Tuesday. "Local PD is just standing there."
Aker said he didn't receive any notice or warning about the loan, which he received in 1987 at Prairie View A&M University.
He said he noticied a suspicious truck in front of his house on Thursday morning, and when someone approached, he ran back into the house. Later that morning, a bunch of armed Marshals with combat weapons showed up at his door.
"I say, 'What is this all about?'" Aker told The News. "They say, 'Shut up, you know what this is all about.' I don't have a clue."
When Aker continued to ask, they continued to say "you know what this is all about," he said.
Eventually he was told it was about a 30-year-old student loan.
"You could have sent me a letter. You could have called me," Aker said.
The U.S. Marshals said later in court that they had the firepower because Aker had a gun, but he disputes that.
"But you were already at my door," he said. "It was because they knew I was a registered gun owner.
"It's out of control. Out of control," he continued. What if they had seen a gun on me? They would have shot me for 1,500 bucks."
Paul Aker was arrested in his Texas home by U.S. Marshals with automatic weapons for not paying his student loans, he claims.
Aker said he was put in the back of a truck and placed in a cell at the federal building in downtown Houston. Later, he was brought to court, where a "prosecutor," county clerk and judge were present. Aker said the prosecutor was actually a collection lawyer.
"Then I get a lecture (from the judge) about the United States and stealing from the government," Aker said.
Aker told The News that he was ordered to pay $5,700 for the loan, including interest. However, Aker was also ordered to pay for the cost of the morning arrest — nearly $1,300. If he didn't pay that amount by March 1, he said, he was told he would be arrested again.
The average student loan debt for 2015 graduates is approximately $35,000, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Aker said he was never read his rights during the ordeal. He is in the process of finding a lawyer.
"I am still shaken," he said. "I had to go to work yesterday, and it was hard to drive to work, for the fear of someone coming. I am looking out the window and I have things to do today, and I am still afraid to go outside."
Amazingly, U.S. Marshals are planning to serve up to 1,500 warrants to people who have not repaid their loans, according to Fox 26.
Texas Rep. Gene Green, a Democrat, said it's worrisome that lawyers and debt collectors are able to use U.S. Marshals as muscle to collect these loans.
"There's bound to be a better way to collect on a student loan debt that is so old," Green told told Fox 26.
A call to the U.S. Marshals has not yet been returned.
dboroff@nydailynews.com
