A federal judge Wednesday sentenced former Thrifty operator Michael W. Ryan to 71 months in prison and fined him $100,000 for defrauding customers in a windshield replacement scheme.

Ryan is also ordered to pay $55,128 restitution to insurance companies and defrauded individuals.

Michael W. Ryan, 55, was involved in a scheme to overcharge rental customers for windshield replacements,The Associated Press reports.

Last May, Ryan was charged with wire fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud. He sold the rental business in April.

Prosecutors said Ryan and co-defendants Jeffrey R. Loney, Ryan's former fleet manager, and Kevin J. Massick, owner of Fas-Break Windshield Repair, conspired to swindle car rental customers for windshield replacements. Massick charged high prices for windshield replacements for Thrifty cars, deducted a wholesale price and split the difference with Ryan.

Prosecutors said the conspiracy started in 1999 and continued for about 3 1/2 years.

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