Michael Winans Jr., gospel family scion, gets nearly 14 years in prison
| DETROIT
A judge聽sentenced聽a member of gospel music's聽Winans聽family to nearly 14 years in prison Wednesday for an $8 million financial scam that was promoted in church pulpits.
Two of Michael聽Winans聽Jr.'s victims spoke in federal court, telling a judge that the scheme to sell Saudi Arabian oil bonds robbed some people of their life savings, caused divorces and fractured many families.
"I want to apologize to everyone. ... These were decisions that were negligent and irresponsible," said聽Winans, of Jessup, Md.
He said he had no "malicious intent" but acknowledged that he continued to collect money even after he learned that the bonds were bogus.
Winans聽attracted more than 1,000 investors in 2007 and 2008, although he didn't know them all because many were recruited by others through word of mouth. He promised 100 percent returns in two months, then used the money for personal expenses or to pay off earlier investors. About 600 people are still owed $4.7 million.
Winans, 30, is a third-generation member of one of gospel music's first families. He's the grandson of Delores "Mom"聽Winans聽and David "Pop"聽Winans聽Sr., and the son of Michael聽Winans聽Sr., a member of The聽Winans, a quartet of brothers. His uncle, Marvin聽Winans, gave the eulogy at Whitney Houston's funeral.
Winans聽has performed with his cousins as聽Winans聽Phase II. He released his own album in 2011, "My Own Genre."
Winans聽relied on unwitting friends to round up investors, a trait of a classic Ponzi scheme. When the bonds turned out to phony, investors angrily turned on the people who recruited them.
"There are lots of marriages that have been destroyed. I know family members who aren't speaking to each other," Tara Hurt told the judge. The Detroit-area resident declined further comment outside court.
U.S. District Judge Sean Cox read from some of the 50 letters written by victims. He said a young woman joined the Army because her family had lost money that was intended for her college education. He noted thatWinans聽made his pitch from church pulpits.
"Fraud on good, decent church-going people 鈥� that was very, very troubling to me," Cox said.
Cox chose a sentence that was in the guideline range of 12 陆 years to 15 陆 years in prison.
"Investor fraud schemes like this one are just a fancy way to steal other people's money," U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said.
