Janice Turner, the mother of singer Sean Kingston, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison following her conviction earlier this year on charges of wire fraud and theft. The sentencing took place on Wednesday in a Miami federal courtroom, where Turner also received three years of supervised release. She and her son were found guilty in March for their roles in a scheme that prosecutors say defrauded over $1 million from sellers of luxury goods using fraudulent payment documents.

During the sentencing hearing, Turner, 62, addressed the judge with an emotional apology, stating that her actions stemmed from a desire to support her son in the high-pressure entertainment industry. “I’m sorry,” Turner said. “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.”

The sentencing comes just days after Turner’s legal team submitted a formal request for leniency. In a court filing dated July 19, her attorneys urged U.S. District Judge David S. Leibowitz to impose a reduced sentence of 30 months, citing Turner’s age, medical conditions, and limited criminal history. The filing also included letters of support from members of her community, who described Turner as a “pillar” and a positive influence.

“Ms. Turner will go to prison; she has earned the prison sentence,” her attorneys acknowledged in the filing. “However, a sentence greater than thirty months is a waste of taxpayer resources based upon the history and characteristics of Ms. Turner.” The defense also requested that, if incarcerated, Turner be housed at a facility near Miami to facilitate regular visits from family and friends, which they argued would improve her chances of rehabilitation.

Judge Leibowitz ultimately declined the request for a shorter sentence, and a restitution hearing has been scheduled for October to determine how much Turner and her son must repay to their victims.

According to federal prosecutors, Turner and Kingston operated a fraudulent scheme involving high-end purchases, including luxury cars and jewelry. Court records from the Southern District of Florida allege the pair used falsified bank wire confirmations and other deceptive documents to obtain goods without providing actual payment. The indictment stated that the duo acquired over $1 million worth of merchandise under false pretenses.

Turner was taken into custody earlier this year following a raid on the family's rented Fort Lauderdale mansion, where investigators seized evidence related to the fraud. Sean Kingston, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, was arrested shortly after and later released on bond in April. He is currently awaiting sentencing.

While Turner’s legal team emphasized her role as a caretaker and community figure, federal authorities maintained that her actions were part of a calculated plan to deceive and enrich herself and her son. The case has attracted widespread media attention, not only due to Kingston’s celebrity status but also because of the scale and audacity of the alleged fraud.

As Turner begins her prison term, Kingston's legal team is preparing for his upcoming sentencing. Prosecutors have not yet disclosed what sentence they will seek for the singer, who rose to fame in the late 2000s with hits like “Beautiful Girls.”