Janice Turner was sentenced to five years in federal prison Tuesday (July 23) for orchestrating a million-dollar fraud scheme involving fake wire transfers, luxury goods and the celebrity status of her son Sean Kingston, and now faces possible deportation to Jamaica.
The 61-year-old mother of the “Beautiful Girls” singer was also handed three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution to the victims, though the final amount will be determined at a later hearing.
Federal prosecutors said Turner and Kingston conspired to scam high-end jewelers, car dealers and electronics retailers by presenting bogus proof of payment, often leveraging Kingston’s fame to secure merchandise. The fraudulent activity involved more than $1 million in goods, according to court documents.
Turner was convicted earlier this year on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. Prosecutors identified between 17 and 21 victims in the case.
Many of the luxury items were seized during a raid at Kingston’s home in Southwest Ranches, Florida.
Janice Turner Claims Sean Kingston Was “Used” & “Abused”
Before sentencing, Turner appeared in court visibly emotional and addressed the judge directly. “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, according to CBS News.
Kingston did not attend the hearing but reportedly submitted a letter asking the court to show compassion toward his mother, citing her age and medical issues.
Turner’s legal team said they plan to appeal parts of the ruling. Her prior convictions for fraud were factored into the sentence, which her attorneys argued was overly harsh given her health and lack of personal financial gain from the scheme.
In a letter to the court earlier this month, Turner requested no more than 30 months behind bars. She could be deported to Jamaica after completing her sentence.
Kingston is scheduled to be sentenced in the same case on August 28. He remains on house arrest after posting bond.