Sean Kingston and His Mother Convicted of Fraud Charges
Sean Kingston and His Mother Convicted of Fraud Charges
American singer Sean Kingston, best known for his 2007 hit “Beautiful Girls,” along with his mother Janice Turner, has been found guilty of fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Kingston, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, 35, has been placed under house arrest and monitored electronically, while Turner has been taken into custody. Kingston is required to secure a surety bond for a home valued at $500,000 and a cash bond of $200,000. They are both awaiting sentencing scheduled for July 11.
The trial, which began on March 24 and concluded with closing arguments on March 28, lasted five days. After three and a half hours of deliberation, the jury delivered a guilty verdict. Kingston and Turner were found to have defrauded numerous businesses, including jewelers, a luxury car dealership, and a television installment company, amounting to more than $1 million, according to prosecutors.
Turner was classified as a flight risk, which contributed to her detention following her testimony during the trial. In court footage, Kingston was heard requesting U.S. Marshals to “protect my mother” as he was led away from the courthouse.
Fort Lauderdale jeweler Moshe Edery testified that Kingston’s unsuccessful $285,000 transfer significantly harmed his reputation, describing the incident as a scam.
Both were arrested in May 2024 and made their initial court appearance in July. They faced one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. Turner allegedly assisted in the facilitation of deliveries and wire transfers, diverting funds through fraudulent means over several years.
During the proceedings, the defense contended that the prosecution failed to present adequate evidence of fraudulent intent, noting that some victims had successfully recouped their money and goods.
Sean Kingston, who was born in Miami and raised in Jamaica, rose to international fame with “Beautiful Girls” and continued his music career throughout the 2010s, collaborating with artists like Justin Bieber and appearing in Disney Channel’s “Suite Life on Deck.”
