A DeLand man who once owned as many as 50 gas stations has been sentenced to federal prison after being convicted two years ago on wire fraud.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports that 57-year-old Stephen DeLuca was sentenced Friday to 6 1/2 years in federal prison following his 2013 conviction on wire fraud charges.

The prosecutor had been asking for 11 to 14 years in prison. DeLuca is scheduled to surrender in June.

DeLuca was indicted in 2011, charged with falsely inflating the value of his company to secure $18 million in loans.

DeLuca also owned three storage facilities and dozens of other properties.

At his sentencing the judge in the case received two dozen letters from people about the work DeLuca had done for youth.