Member of Winans Gospel Music Family Singing Before a Fed Judge

Being famous has its benefits. One of them is not getting publicity over something bad.

Christine Ferreti of the Detroit News reports that Michael Winnans Jr. of the famous gospel music family, the Winans, could face up to 20 years behind bars when sentenced in Detroit in February for fleecing investors in an $8 million Ponzi scheme. He pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit. 

Authorities charged Winans last month with duping more than 1,000 victims who invested in bogus crude oil bonds in Saudia Arabia.