Sean Kingston’s mother has been sentenced to five years in prison and three years on probation after being convicted along with her son of wire fraud over a scheme to steal more than $1 million in high-end cars, jewelry and other luxury goods.
Janice Turner, 63, received the sentence from Judge David S. Leibowitz during a hearing in Miami federal court Wednesday, according to federal court records. A hearing on restitution is set for October.
At the hearing, Turner apologized to the judge for her conduct, according to Miami’s local CBS affiliate: “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.”
Kingston, best known for his chart-topping 2007 hit “Beautiful Girls,” was convicted in March along with his mother of defrauding luxury goods vendors of more than $1 million in merchandise, including a Cadillac Escalade and a massive LED television.
Prosecutors say the duo exploited his celebrity status to convince vendors to deliver goods without immediate payment, either by “promising to place his victims and their products in social media promos” or by “name-dropping high-profile celebrities as potential referral clients.” When payment was due, Kingston or Turner would text them fake wire transfer receipts, falsely suggesting that the money had been sent.
Following a trial in March, it took jurors less than four hours of deliberation to convict the pair of one count of wire fraud conspiracy and four counts of wire fraud.
In court filings last week, Turner’s lawyers pleaded for a lenient sentence, citing health issues and “minimal criminal history.” They asked the judge for only 30 months — far less than the 63 to 78 months recommended by sentencing guidelines.
“Ms. Turner will go to prison; she has earned the prison sentence,” her lawyers write, adding emphasis in their filing. “However, a sentence greater than thirty months is a waste of taxpayer resources based upon the history and characteristics of Ms. Turner.”
Wednesday’s sentence – 60 months – came closer to the guidelines than to Turner’s request. Kingston’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 15.
