Sean Kingston and Mother Convicted in Multi-Million Dollar Luxury Fraud Scheme
Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother have been found guilty of wire fraud in a federal trial in Florida after a three-and-a-half-hour jury deliberation. The case involved defrauding multiple luxury businesses including jewelry, car dealerships, and electronics companies.
Sean Kingston holding a microphone
Kingston has been placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring and must post a $500,000 property bond plus $200,000 in cash. His mother, Janice Turner, was taken into federal custody until their sentencing on July 11.
The fraud scheme involved:
- Using Kingston's celebrity status to obtain luxury goods without payment
- Creating fake wire transfer receipts
- Fabricating payment documents
- Making false claims about celebrity partnerships
- Coordinating fraudulent deliveries
Notable items obtained through fraud included:
- Luxury watches
- A bulletproof Cadillac Escalade
- High-end home theater system ($150,000)
- Expensive bedding
The arrests occurred in May 2024, with Kingston apprehended in Fort Irwin, California, while his mother was arrested during a SWAT raid at their Southwest Ranches home in Broward County, Florida.
Judge David D. Leibowitz allowed Kingston to remain free on bond due to his silence during the trial. However, his mother's testimony, which the judge deemed "amounted to obstruction," resulted in her immediate federal custody.
Sean Kingston singing into microphone
Sean Kingston's inscribed jewelry watch