Northridge Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Student Loan Case

In a move designed to send a message to student loan scofflaws, a judge Wednesday sentenced a Northridge man to three years in state prison after he failed to repay $8,700.

Michael Paul Langsam, 28, who court records show was studying nursing, pleaded guilty to perjury and lying on an application when he applied for financial aid to Pierce College in 1991 but failed to disclose another loan he did not repay in Colorado.

He was given probation and ordered to serve 500 hours of community service and repay the loans.

But after he repeatedly failed to fulfill the conditions, a frustrated Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Darlene Schempp revoked his probation and ordered Langsam to jail.

“You have been going to college long enough to have a master’s degree,” Schempp told Langsam. “It’s time you stopped ripping off the government.”

Under California law, a student is barred from taking out a second student loan if the first is outstanding or in default.

According to the state agency that handles student loan defaults, jail time is relatively rare and only 115 cases have been referred to local district attorneys.

“It can happen but it’s rare,” said Dana Callihan, Student Aid Commission spokesman.

Typically, 15% of California students default on their student loans. Using standard collection techniques cuts the default rate in half, officials said.