 |
| Mike Winans Jr. |
A judge
sentenced Mike Winans Jr. a member of gospel music’s Winans family to nearly 14
years in prison Wednesday for an $8 million financial scam that was promoted in
church pulpits, reports the Associated Press.
Two of Michael
Winans 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 decidisions that were negligent and
irresponsible,” said 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, 30,
is a third-generation member of one of gospel music’s first families. He’s the
grandson ofDelores “Mom” Winans and David “Pop” Winans Sr.,
and the son of Michael Winans Sr., a member ofThe Winans quartet of brothers.
Winans has
performed with his cousin as “Winans Phase II.” He released his own
album in 2011, “My Own Genre.”
Winans
relied on unwitting friends to round up inverstors, a trait of a classic Ponzi
scheme. When the bonds truned out to bogus, inverston angrily turned on the
people who recruite them.
“The are
lots of marriages that have been destoryed. I know family members who aren’t
speaking to each other” Tara Hurt told the judge.
US 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 eduction. He note that Winans made his pitch from church
pulpits.
“Fraud on
good, decent church-going people –that was very, very troubling to me,” Cox
said.
No comments:
Post a Comment