Madison, Wisconsin -- Erik C. Peterson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Anthony H. Andrews, DOB 5/15/1953, of 6866 Old County Road A, Webster, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb to 60 months in prison, to be followed by a five-year period of supervised release, a $100 special assessment, and $110,045.25 in restitution for mail fraud. Andrews pleaded guilty to a mail fraud charge on January 4, 2006.

From approximately January 2000 to January 1, 2006, Andrews owned and operated a used car business known as Siren Auto Sales, at 24720 Highway 35/70, Siren, Wisconsin. During this time Andrews engaged in a scheme to defraud individuals and financial institutions with whom he did business through Siren Auto Sales.

Andrews received funds from customers to pay off outstanding loans on vehicles and failed to pay off the loans as promised to the customers. Andrews then falsely certified to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation on applications for new titles that an old loan appearing on the title had been paid off. As a result of the scheme, Andrews fraudulently obtained the use of approximately $1.2 million in funds he received from customers to pay off vehicle loans.

The charges against Anthony H. Andrews were the result of an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and investigators from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant C. Johnson.