Member of Winans Gospel Family is Charged With Fraud

September 17, 2012 | Filed under: News,Religion | Posted by: trammell

By: Victor Trammell

A member of the Winans gospel-music family has been charged with fraud after authorities revealed a scam involving more than $8 million and fraudulent oil bonds.

Michael Winans Jr. was charged in the U.S. District Court of Detroit with multiple federal counts of wire fraud. The indictment accuses him of defrauding more than 1,000 investors of $1,000 to $7,000 each between October 2007 through September 2008.Winans’ lawyer, William Hatchett of Pontiac, Michigan said Winans intends to plead guilty within the next 10 days and that he will fully repay all the investors. Hatchett released a statement quoting:

“He (Michael Winans jr.) wants to bring this to a speedy and just conclusion. Winans wants to make sure everyone knows that other family members weren’t involved in the scheme.”

The Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation issued a cease and desist order against Winans in 2010. The order claimed he used his connections to Detroit churches to lure investors into the scheme.

Winans is a famous member of one of gospel music’s most prominent families. He is the grandson of Delores “Mom” Winans and David “Pop” Winans Sr. He is the son of Michael Winans Sr., a member of The Winans, a quartet of brothers. His uncle, Marvin Winans, gave the eulogy at Whitney Houston’s funeral. Michael Winans Jr. is expected to make his next court appearance in eight days.

7 Responses to Member of Winans Gospel Family is Charged With Fraud

Alvin Hall September 17, 2012 - 1:24 pm

Put His Azz In JAIL That All They Do Take People money BYE AZZ ..

- B September 17, 2012 - 2:33 pm
  
  Can’t afford to put him in jail but I tell you what he’ll have a felony conviction hanging over his head for the rest of his life if dosen’t try to work out a schedule for paying those people back plus fines and intrest that’s the deal he’s probably going to cut with the court and when he pays it back they’ll probably drop the charges.
  
cynthia September 17, 2012 - 2:24 pm

Why woud anyone even put s**t on the great Winan family name by publicizing this. No one raises a perfect family. That family is huge. Some of them are going to go astray. The fact that he pled guilty and apologized and agreed to make restitution says a lot about the kind of good family he comes from. True criminals never admit guilt.

He has shown a good example for others who make mistakes on how to confess and do the right thing.

Miss T September 18, 2012 - 7:47 pm

Please, that’s d**n near $8mil…he was NOT in this alone and he should go and sit his thieving a*s right next to Bernie Madoff behind bars and take his family cohorts with him. Stealing from the congregants no less…that’s probably one of those churches that ask you for your W-2s and 1040s. People trying to feed their families…d**n disgrace!

Linzell Brooks September 20, 2012 - 6:24 pm

We all have done something in this life, or a
Family member that if we could; we will say I
Don’t know them .

Max-A-Million September 21, 2012 - 2:40 am

There’s always one in every family! (SMDH)

Clive Kevin Hendricks November 11, 2012 - 12:56 pm

People will give different comments,but I know if he repent God will forgive! God bless. Clive, CapeTown, SA