Janice Turner, mother of singer Sean Kingston, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison and three years of supervised release after being convicted in a luxury fraud scheme that netted over $1 million in high-end merchandise, including luxury vehicles and jewelry.
The 63-year-old was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge David S. Leibowitz in a Miami federal court. Turner was found guilty in March alongside her son, known for his 2007 hit “Beautiful Girls,” of conspiring to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud. A restitution hearing is set for October.
Prosecutors said Turner and Kingston used the singer’s celebrity status to dupe vendors into handing over luxury goods without upfront payments. They promised social media promotions and falsely claimed endorsements from high-profile celebrities. When payment was requested, the duo would send fake wire transfer confirmations.
Among the items obtained fraudulently were a Cadillac Escalade and an oversized LED television. Prosecutors said their scheme targeted multiple vendors and relied heavily on deception and exploitation of Kingston’s fame.
At the sentencing hearing, Turner tearfully apologized: “I’m sorry. My intention was to keep my son afloat in this difficult industry. They used him and abused him. I am begging for mercy for me and my son,” she said, as reported by CBS Miami.
Her defense team had requested a 30-month sentence, citing her age, health concerns, and minimal criminal history. “Ms. Turner will go to prison; she has earned the prison sentence,” her attorneys acknowledged in court documents. “However, a sentence greater than thirty months is a waste of taxpayer resources.”
Judge Leibowitz ultimately handed down a 60-month sentence, closer to federal guidelines, which recommended 63 to 78 months.
Sean Kingston’s sentencing is scheduled for August 15.
Written By Rodney Mbua
