Janice Turner, the mother of popular singer Sean Kingston, has been sentenced to five years in prison after she and her son were found guilty in a fraud case involving over $1 million worth of unpaid goods.
Back in March, a jury found both Turner, aged 63, and Kingston, 35, guilty of five wire fraud-related crimes. Their legal troubles began when authorities raided Kingston’s rented mansion in Southwest Ranches shortly before their indictment in July 2024.
Between April 2023 and March 2024, Turner and Kingston reportedly carried out a wire fraud scheme. They made fake promises of wire transfers to get expensive cars, watches, and other luxury goods.
Unfortunately for the businesses involved, none of the payments ever arrived.
Some of the major frauds listed included $480,000 for two watches, another watch costing $285,000, and a car worth around $160,000. All of these items were never paid for.
Although Turner could have faced up to 20 years in prison, her lawyers begged the judge to reduce her sentence to just two and a half years. They mentioned her past charitable acts, serious health issues, and limited criminal background.
But during the sentencing, U.S. District Judge David S. Leibowitz referred to Turner as the “nerve center” of the operation, showing that she played a major role in the fraud.
Before her sentencing, Turner’s legal team revealed that she would be deported back to Jamaica after serving her time in the U.S.
This isn’t Turner’s first run-in with the law. In 2006, she admitted to bank fraud and spent more than a year in prison.
Her legal team accepted that she deserved jail time but argued that anything beyond 30 months would be too much, especially considering her health and background.
Meanwhile, Sean Kingston — whose real name is Kisean Anderson — is set to be sentenced on August 28.
Kingston, a native of South Florida, is widely known for his 2000s hits like “Beautiful Girls,” “Fire Burning,” and “Eenie Meenie” with Justin Bieber. He enjoyed major success as a reggae pop artist, with multiple songs landing on the Billboard Top 10.
