Sean Kingston‘s legal drama is far from over. Just days after his mom, Janice Turner, was hit with a five-year prison sentence for her role in a million-dollar scam, prosecutors are coming for the ‘Beautiful Girls’ singer hard. They’re pushing for him to serve up to 6.5 years behind bars. According to a new report, prosecutors are not playing either, demanding accountability for a scheme that allegedly scammed 20 victims out of their luxury goods. With Sean’s sentencing set for August 28, here’s what’s being reported.
RELATED: Sean Kingston And His Mom Janice Turner Hit With Guilty Verdict In Federal Wire Fraud Case (UPDATE)
Prosecutors Want Sean Kingston Held Accountable
Sean and his mom were convicted back in March on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. They were accused of scheming to scam $3.1 million in luxury items, including cars, jewelry, and more high-end items. But according to All Hip Hop, the court’s initial report lowballed the damage, leaving out some victims and the full financial hit they faced.
Now, prosecutors are reportedly pushing for Sean to face the consequences. They’re pushing for a 6.5-year sentence and a repayment of $1.17 million in restitution for the 21 individuals and businesses affected. The government didn’t outright request a longer sentence. But it was hinted that recognizing the full scope of the fraud could bump up Sean’s time under federal guidelines.
Sean’s Mother, Janice Turner, Was Sentenced To Five Years In Prison
Janice is already feeling the weight of justice. On July 23, she was sentenced to five years in prison. Additionally, she received three years of supervised release for her role in the fraud scheme. CBS Miami reported that Janice was in court, begging for mercy and claiming she was just trying to “keep my son afloat.” However, the judge wasn’t convinced, especially since Janice has a history. She previously served 18 months for bank fraud back in 2006.
Per ABC7 Los Angeles, prosecutors called her the “operator, fixer, and accountant” of the operation. Furthermore, she allegedly used fake wire transfer receipts to dupe businesses into handing over high-end items. Janice’s team now plans to appeal. But with her sentencing, she’s also facing possible deportation to Jamaica. Her restitution amount is still to be determined, with a hearing set for October 16.
What Sean Kingston Has Said About The Case
Sean chose not to testify during the trial, which his lawyer said helped him stay on house arrest instead of behind bars. But when the guilty verdict dropped, The US Sun reported that Sean was in tears. He begged U.S. Marshals to “protect my mother” as Janice was taken into custody. Additionally, his legal team is painting him as a naïve artist who grew up poor and didn’t know how to handle his finances, according to CBS.
Sean reportedly even wrote a letter to the court pleading for leniency for his mom, citing her age. However, with prosecutors dropping receipts, such as a text message in which Sean allegedly told Janice to fake receipts via Variety, it has yet to be seen how the judge will sentence the singer. Sean will return to court on August 28.
