A former employee of a Fredericksburg automobile wholesaler who stole $530,690 was sentenced to 57 months in prison yesterday.

Ryland Mason, 44, must serve the time in addition to the four years he is now serving for fraud convictions in state court. U.S. District Judge Richard L. Williams also ordered Mason to make full restitution to Provident Bank.

Mason bought and sold cars for the Maz Company in Fredericksburg. From Feb. 21, 2006 until Dec. 26, 2006, he fraudulently cashed and diverted checks intended as payment to the Maz Company for automobiles.

Mason falsely told bank employees that he was the owner of the company and authorized to cash the 63 checks he diverted and deposited in his personal account at Provident.

-- Frank Green