A Florida court found rapper Sean Kingston guilty on all counts of federal wire fraud alongside his mother. The pair faces decades behind bars after scamming various businesses out of $ 1 million (£774,173). Their victims included sellers of jewelry, microLED TVs, and luxury beds across the country. Kingston, whose birth name is Kisean Anderson, must wear an electronic monitor under house arrest until sentencing happens.
The judge ordered Kingston to secure his release with both a house worth $500,000 and $200,000 cash. His mother, Janice Turner, age 64, sits in federal custody awaiting their punishment later this year. Police nabbed the 34-year-old musician last May in Fort Irwin, California. Officers issued his arrest warrant after a SWAT team already searched his Broward, Florida, home.
Federal prosecutors brought charges against Kingston and Turner through a grand jury indictment in July 2024. Court papers say Kingston used his fame to trick companies into sending products before they received payment. Turner handled all delivery details and arrangements with these businesses. The pair kept everything they received but paid using fake wire transfers that held no value.
Both Kingston and his mom claimed they did nothing wrong at first. The judge let Kingston stay free partly because he refused to talk during the entire legal process. Many music fans remember Kingston from his 2007 hit song "Beautiful Girls," which made him famous at just 17 years old. He later created popular tracks like "Fire Burning" and recorded "Eenie Meenie" with pop star Justin Bieber.
The judge ordered Kingston to secure his release with both a house worth $500,000 and $200,000 cash. His mother, Janice Turner, age 64, sits in federal custody awaiting their punishment later this year. Police nabbed the 34-year-old musician last May in Fort Irwin, California. Officers issued his arrest warrant after a SWAT team already searched his Broward, Florida, home.
Federal prosecutors brought charges against Kingston and Turner through a grand jury indictment in July 2024. Court papers say Kingston used his fame to trick companies into sending products before they received payment. Turner handled all delivery details and arrangements with these businesses. The pair kept everything they received but paid using fake wire transfers that held no value.
Both Kingston and his mom claimed they did nothing wrong at first. The judge let Kingston stay free partly because he refused to talk during the entire legal process. Many music fans remember Kingston from his 2007 hit song "Beautiful Girls," which made him famous at just 17 years old. He later created popular tracks like "Fire Burning" and recorded "Eenie Meenie" with pop star Justin Bieber.
