DETROIT — A judge sentenced 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.

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.

Winans attracted more than 1,000 investors in 2007 and 2008, although he didn’t know them all because many were recruited by others through word of mouth. He promised 100 percent returns in two months, then used the money for personal expenses or to pay off earlier investors. About 600 people are still owed $4.7 million.

Winans, 30, is a third-generation member of one of gospel music’s first families. He’s the grandson of Delores “Mom” Winans and David “Pop” Winans, Sr., and the son of Michael Winans, Sr., a member of The Winans, a quartet of brothers.

Winans has performed with his cousins as Winans Phase II. He released his own album in 2011, “My Own Genre.”

U.S. District Judge Sean Cox read from some of the 50 letters written by victims.

Cox chose a sentence that was in the guideline range of 12 1/2 years to 15 1/2 years in prison.