Winans family member pleads guilty to Ponzi scam - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Winans family member pleads guilty to Ponzi scam

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DETROIT -- A member of the famed Winans gospel singing family has admitted he ripped people off.  Michael Winans, Junior plead guilty in federal court Wednesday to wire fraud.  

When asked outside of court if he had anything to say to his more than one thousand victims, he had no comment.

I first exposed Michael Winans, Junior in 2008 when victim after victim told me he was using his famous family name to convince them to invest the way rich people did.  Winans claimed he was taking their money to invest in a Saudi oil bond.

Now he has admitted he knew the bond was fake, but kept lying to his victims to steal their money.

Winans is still living the good life now in Maryland where he is once again using the Winans name to his advantage.  On his website, you can see him addressing young singers and songwriters acting like a big shot trying to sell his solo singing CDs.

But Mr. Big Shot is Mr. Big Not.  He's now just another convicted felon.

Michael Winans, Junior is out on a $10,000 bond.  He will be back in court to be sentenced in February.  He could be sent to federal prison for 20 years and will most likely have to pay some restitution to his victims.  He admitted to the judge he took in $8 million running the scheme.

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