Karyn Turk, a former Mrs. Florida, was sentenced to a month in prison for stealing her mother’s Social Security checks.
Karyn Turk made headlines when she was convicted of Social Security fraud. The case revolved around her handling of her elderly mother’s finances. Turk was accused of cashing her mother’s Social Security checks without using the money for her mother’s care. Instead, she was found to have used the funds for her own personal expenses.
During the trial, evidence was presented that showed Turk had withdrawn the Social Security benefits from her mother’s account but failed to pay for her mother’s nursing home care, which led to the facility suing her mother for nonpayment. Turk pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of willfully failing to supply the required monthly account statements.
In addition to her one-month prison sentence, Turk was also sentenced to serve five months of house arrest following her incarceration and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. She was also required to pay restitution. The case brought attention to issues of elder care and the responsibilities entrusted to those managing the finances of the elderly. Turk’s title as Mrs. Florida and her social status as a conservative media commentator added to the public interest in her case.
