Winans, Jr. charged, accused of cheating people out of millions - Los Angeles Local News, Weather, and Traffic

A member of the famous Winans family has been charged with cheating people out of more than $8 million dollars.  He's a familiar face, not only because of his family name, but because Problem Solver Rob Wolchek put him in the Hall of Shame.

Michael Winans, Junior is in big trouble.  The singer may have hung out with famous people like P. Diddy and Nicole Scherzinger a few years ago, but soon he may be hanging with famous people like O.J. Simpson and Bernie Madoff in prison.

I confronted Michael Winans, Junior back in 2008 when I first exposed what sure seemed like a ponzi scheme.  At that time he had no comment.

Now the federal government agrees, charging Winans with taking more than $8 million from over a thousand victims.

I first started investigating Michael Winans, Junior after I heard he was using his successful family name to convince people he invested like a rich person.

He spoke at local churches where people were impressed to be addressed by one of the famous Winans family.

"When you think of the Winans, you think of prominent people," one woman told us.

Michael Winans, Junior said he was such a big shot, he'd let others in on his Saudi Arabian oil bond that was paying huge dividends.

"He did get up and speak and basically he said that the crude oil bond is real," one man said.

But the feds say his Saudi oil bond and his investments were all fake.

He may be a member of the famous gospel singing Winans family, but the feds say this Winans is just a crook.

Michael Winans, Junior is officially being charged by the United States government with wire fraud, but this is all about the same scheme Winans was running when I busted him.  

I spoke with Winans' attorney and he said his client is working to pay the victims back.  $8 million is a lot of money, even for a member of the Winans family.