Associated Press - April 25, 2009 1:05 PM ET

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) - The 1-time operator of a Long Island debt-counseling service will go to prison for cheating his customers out of millions of dollars.

A federal judge in Central Islip sentenced Eriks Pukke (PUCK'-ee) to seven years in prison on Friday. He told the judge that he has no excuse for his actions except greed.

The 38-year-old was also ordered to pay restitution of $1.9 million.

Prosecutors say Pukke's Huntington counseling service, called Debticated, advertised that it could help those in debt but actually cheated 17,000 people out of $24 million between 2000 and 2003.

6 of his employees were also convicted in the case and are awaiting sentencing.

Information from: Newsday, http://www.newsday.com

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