Rapper Sean Kingston, mother found guilty in federal fraud case
Share and Follow

A US federal jury found singer and rapper Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, guilty on all charges on Friday evening in their luxury fraud scheme trial.

Turner was immediately taken into custody after the verdict, with the judge citing her past criminal history and role in the scheme as key factors in his decision.

He described her as the “operator, fixer, and accountant” behind the fraudulent activity. As she was led away, she blew a kiss to her daughter, who mouthed back, “I love you”.

A US federal jury found singer and rapper Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, guilty on all charges. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Kingston, 35, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, was placed on immediate house arrest until sentencing.

The judge rejected his request to travel for a scheduled performance in Texas, saying, “He’s not going to Texas”.

Turner was immediately taken into custody after the verdict, with the judge citing her past criminal history and role in the scheme as key factors in his decision.

He described her as the “operator, fixer, and accountant” behind the fraudulent activity. As she was led away, she blew a kiss to her daughter, who mouthed back, “I love you.”

Kingston, 35, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, was placed on immediate house arrest until sentencing.

The judge rejected his request to travel for a scheduled performance in Texas, saying, “He’s not going to Texas”.

The scheme and trial evidence Prosecutors accused Kingston and Turner of orchestrating a scheme to obtain high-end items—including a luxury SUV, jewelry, expensive watches and a wall-sized TV—without paying for them.

In May, the Broward Sheriff’s Office raided Kingston’s home in Southwest Ranches, Florida, as part of the investigation.

Authorities presented evidence showing the pair used fake wire transfer receipts as proof of payment. A key piece of evidence was a text message from Kingston to his mother that read: “I told you to make [a] fake receipt,” followed by, “so it [looks] like the transfer will be there in a couple [of] days.”

During closing arguments, Turner’s attorney claimed the alleged victims were “fraudsters” themselves.

Kingston’s attorney attempted to separate his client’s public image from his personal finances, describing him as “a soft guy who grew up poor when he rose to fame overnight”, with “no idea how to run a business [and] no idea how much money is in his bank account”.

Kingston was first arrested on May 23, 2024, at Fort Irwin, an Army training base in California’s Mojave Desert, where he was performing. He waived his right to fight extradition and was returned to Florida.

Sentencing is scheduled for Friday, July 11, with Turner’s hearing at 9 am and Kingston’s at 11 am.

In addition to the federal charges, the two also face similar state charges.

Kingston, a Jamaican American performer, rose to fame with his 2007 No. 1 hit Beautiful Girls and later collaborated with Justin Bieber on Eenie Meenie.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Missing light plane Snowy Mountains map

“Pilot Nearing Retirement Goes Missing: ‘David Loved to Fly'”

The family of a missing pilot who vanished while flying near the…
Pedestrians and office workers walk through the Sydney CBD.

Unexpected Data Strengthens Argument for Possible Interest Rate Reduction Next Month

The unemployment rate has unexpectedly risen for the first time this year,…
A man accused of manslaughter over a baby's drowning at a lakeside campsite intends to apply for bail, a magistrate has heard.

Father Denied Bail Over Allegations of Baby Son Being ‘Thrown’ into Water

Jaye Lee Walton, 42, faced Ipswich Magistrates Court today after being charged…
Lachlan Young admitted to killing former partner Hannah McGuire.

Woman accused of murder asserts ex-partner assaulted her during fight

An accused murderer claims his ex-girlfriend hit her head on the floor…
Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca were found dead in their home.

‘American Idol’ Music Supervisor and Spouse Discovered Dead in Los Angeles Home

An American Idol music supervisor and her husband have been found dead…
SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: These are my 50 greatest Lions players of all time - who claims top spot?

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Revealing My Top 50 Greatest Lions Rugby Players – Who Takes the Number One Spot?

The first memory I have of the British & Irish Lions is…
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, which is scheduled to start on Friday (Saturday AEST), draws tens of thousands of visitors from around Europe.

Blaze Consumes Main Stage at Belgium’s Tomorrowland Music Festival

A huge fire at Belgium’s Tomorrowland music festival site has “severely damaged”…
Maurene Comey is the daughter of former FBI chief James Comey.

Leading Prosecutor in Epstein and Maxwell Case Dismissed

Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor in Manhattan and the daughter of former…