Sean Smith (40) and Deo Ramnarine (43) received a sentence in what is believed to be the first prosecution of its kind in New York. The charges were for providing the car that their at-the-time-16-year-old son crashed in Queens last May. The driver, who had only a “junior driver’s license,” had not yet earned the privilege of driving without supervision or within the boundaries of New York City. The boy was driving a bright red 2005 BMW E46, which he slammed into a UPS truck while allegedly doing 101 miles per hour in a 35 zone. Tragically, the boy’s passenger, 14-year-old Fortune Williams, was pronounced dead at the scene.
New York State Supreme Court Justice Michael Yavinsky sentenced Smith and Ramnarine to take a 26-week parenting course after they pleaded guilty to child endangerment charges. Smith will also serve an additional three years of probation.
“The parents of a 16-year-old gave their son a BMW when he did not have legal authority to drive it anywhere in New York City,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement.“We allege that because of the teenager’s actions 14-year-old Fortune Williams is now dead after she was thrown from the car when it crashed into a UPS truck at more than 100 miles per hour. Parents who provide vehicles to their children and let them drive illegally can be held responsible in the case of tragedies such as this one.”
According to investigators, the 17-year-old driver could face up to 15 years in prison for manslaughter and other charges. It was discovered that the boy had been driving the BMW to school as early as November 2022, despite not having a legal license to do so. In addition, he had received a ticket for driving without a license and using an electronic device while driving in the past.