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Fort Lauderdale, FL— Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, were found guilty of federal wire fraud on Friday. A jury delivered the guilty verdicts after just three and a half hours of deliberation, concluding a trial focused on a scheme to defraud luxury goods businesses.
Kingston, whose legal name is Kisean Anderson, and Turner were accused of using Kingston’s celebrity status and social media presence to obtain luxury items, including jewelry, high-end bedding, exotic cars, and a microLED TV, under false pretenses. The indictment alleged they promised payment via wire transfer but ultimately sent fraudulent or worthless transfers, keeping the merchandise. The scheme reportedly spanned several years, ending in March 2024.
Following the verdict, Kingston, 34, was placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring. He was required to post a $500,000 surety bond secured by a home and an additional $200,000 in cash.
Turner, 61, was remanded into federal custody pending sentencing. Both are scheduled to be sentenced on July 11th.
The pair were visibly emotional as the verdicts were read.
Kingston’s arrest stemmed from a warrant issued in Broward County, Florida, leading to a SWAT team raid on his Southwest Ranches home in May. A subsequent grand jury indictment in July 2024 detailed the alleged scheme.
While Turner’s defense argued she was merely protecting her son from those seeking to exploit his wealth, Judge David S. Leibowitz cited her testimony as a key factor in his decision to remand her, stating her actions indicated she “wouldn’t do anything for her son.”
Kingston, after initially indicating he wished to testify, ultimately chose to remain silent, a decision the judge noted contributed to his being granted bond.
The mother and son embraced before Turner was taken into custody. Kingston thanked the judge for his fairness before departing the courthouse in a Lamborghini Urus SUV, declining to speak to the media.
Kingston, originally from Jamaica, achieved fame with his 2007 hit “Beautiful Girls.” The song topped the Billboard charts and solidified his place in the music industry.