Kansas City, Mo. ? A California man was sentenced Thursday to nearly 22 years in federal prison for his role in a nationwide conspiracy to defraud people who were told they would get bargain prices on vehicles as a reward for their religious faith.

Robert Gomez, 28, of Long Beach, Calif., was the final defendant in the “Miracle Cars” scheme, which authorities said stole more than $20 million from thousands of victims.

Gomez was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. He was also ordered to pay $12.5 million in restitution.

The scheme surfaced in the fall of 1998 in California, then spread across the country. Victims were told a wealthy man named John Bowers had left a $400 million estate that was selling vehicles for as little as $1,000 to people with strong religious faith. Word about the purported deals circulated through grass-roots Christian networks.

The scheme raised more than $20 million from victims who purchased more than 7,000 automobiles and other motor vehicles from Oct. 1, 1998, to June 25, 2002.

Authorities are compiling a database to quantify how much was lost, and by how many victims, said U.S. Atty. Todd Graves. The federal court will determine the process for distributing restitution.

“We are hopeful that as many victims as possible will receive as much restitution as possible,” Graves said. “Such a massive loss can’t be completely recouped, but to the best of our ability, we are working to bring justice to the defendants and restitution for the victims.”

Gomez was convicted in June by a federal jury with co-defendant James R. Nichols, 28, of Carson, Calif. Nichols was sentenced to 24 years and four months in federal prison without parole and also ordered to pay $12.5 million in restitution.

The jury found Gomez and Nichols each guilty of a conspiracy to defraud, 13 counts of transferring in interstate commerce of money taken by fraud, and five counts of money laundering. The jury also found Nichols guilty of two additional counts of money laundering.

The other two co-defendants have already been sentenced after pleading guilty.

Gwendolyn Baker, 53, of Memphis, Tenn., was sentenced to five years in federal prison without parole and ordered to pay $12.5 million in restitution. Corinne M. Conway, 63, of Higginsville, was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison without parole and ordered to pay $4.9 million in restitution.