*Janice Turner, the 63-year-old mother of singer Sean Kingston, has been sentenced to five years in prison followed by three years of probation for her role in a $1 million wire fraud scheme.
Convicted alongside her son, Turner faced charges of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. Kingston’s sentencing is set for August 28, CBS reports.
The fraudulent operation, spanning April 2023 to March 2024, involved deceiving vendors to obtain high-value items such as a $285,000 jewelry order, a $160,000 bulletproof Cadillac Escalade, an $86,000 custom bed, and a $150,000 home theater system falsely tied to Justin Bieber. Turner orchestrated logistics and sent fake payment confirmations, while Kingston used his fame to build trust with vendors. The pair also defrauded banks of over $300,000 using forged documents.
At her sentencing, Turner expressed remorse, stating, “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.”
Despite her plea, U.S. District Judge David S. Leibowitz proceeded with the five-year sentence. Turner’s prior 2006 bank fraud conviction led to her detention post-conviction, while Kingston remains under house arrest.
Scroll to continue reading
Turner must pay restitution, though her attorney noted that most affected businesses have been compensated. Her request to align her sentencing with Kingston’s on August 15 was denied, maintaining her original July 11 date.
The mother and son, with Kingston gaining prominence in 2007 for his chart-topping single ‘Beautiful Girls,’ pleaded not guilty to all charges and requested a jury trial.
Kingston’s attorney, Robert Rosenblatt, previosuly stated, “Once the true facts come out we are confident of vindication.”
