(WNY News Now) – BUFFALO, N.Y. — A 40-year-old Tonawanda man who admitted to a nationwide debt collection fraud scheme that victimized more than 500 people has been sentenced to five years of probation.

Nicholas Janes was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. after being convicted of mail fraud in connection with a scheme that caused victims to lose a combined $420,812.92.

According to federal prosecutors, authorities began investigating Janes in May 2023 after noticing numerous suspicious U.S. Postal Service Express Mail envelopes being sent to his Buffalo address. The envelopes came from people across the United States and were addressed to variations of Janes’ name or fictitious law firms.

Investigators also found complaints from alleged victims that linked Janes’ address to names including Nicholas James, The Nichols Law Group and The Nicholas Law Group. Janes also controlled business mailboxes in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where mail connected to the scheme was later forwarded to his Buffalo residence.

Prosecutors said Janes contacted victims by telephone and falsely claimed they owed money on unpaid loans. He allegedly identified himself as a sheriff’s deputy and threatened victims with criminal charges if they did not make immediate payments.

Janes also posed as an attorney working for fictitious law firms, according to prosecutors. Victims were instructed to send USPS money orders payable to Janes through overnight delivery services to addresses he controlled.

Federal authorities said more than 500 people were defrauded in the scheme, resulting in total losses of $420,812.92.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service under Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Justin Page of the Boston Division.

Janes was sentenced to five years of probation.