CLEVELAND -- The FBI indicted several unscrupulous moving companies Tuesday, according to On Your Side Troubleshooter Chris Caswell.

There was finally a payoff for the thousands of consumers who have filed complaints against moving companies nationwide.

Sixteen moving companies and 74 of their employees were indicted in south Florida Tuesday. Those arrested face charges of extortion, mail fraud and wire fraud.

Five On Your Side recently had a Special Assignment on these movers.

Consumers have complained to NewsChannel5 about damaged goods, but some of the movers are now being accused of taking a deposit for delivery and then holding consumers' belongings for ransom, forcing consumers to pay more to have their property returned.

NewsChannel5 alerted the FBI to Shana Johnson's complaint three months ago. She was one of those victims who refused to pay.

"He said, 'I'm not coming; you don't understand. I'll put your stuff in storage, you won't see it for another six weeks and you won't believe the charges I will levy against you' and then he hung up on me," she said.

Her moving company, Majesty Moving and Storage, is one of those companies indicted Tuesday.

Until now, the Department of Transportation has been criticized for taking little action on the behalf of consumers. It has had only five inspectors working nationwide on the issue.

Consumer groups are hoping that after Tuesday's bust, enforcement will change.