Singer Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, have been convicted in a federal fraud trial in Broward County, where they were accused of defrauding businesses of over $1 million.
Following three and a half hours of deliberation, the jury found 35-year-old Kingston, born Kisean Anderson, and Turner guilty on all counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The verdict was delivered on Friday.
Turner was taken into federal custody immediately following the trial, where she will remain until her sentencing. Kingston, on the other hand, was placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring, in addition to having to post a $500,000 surety bond and $200,000 in cash.
Both Kingston and Turner are scheduled for sentencing on July 11.
The trial began on Monday, with closing arguments delivered on Friday. Kingston chose not to testify, despite previously expressing his desire to “speak his truth” in court.
Kingston was arrested in California in May 2024, while Turner was taken into custody during a raid on the singer’s mansion in Southwest Ranches, Florida.
The prosecution outlined how Kingston, Turner, and others defrauded multiple businesses, including a jeweler, a high-end auto dealership, a luxury furniture maker, and a TV and entertainment systems company. They allegedly used fraudulent documents, such as forged bank wires and payment transfers, to acquire luxury goods and either kept or attempted to keep the items without paying for them.
The total value of the stolen goods exceeded $1 million, according to prosecutors.
During the trial, a jeweler from Fort Lauderdale testified that Kingston and Turner falsified a wire transfer to acquire a $285,000 Audemars Piguet perpetual calendar watch. The jeweler claimed he was fired and lost credibility after the fraudulent transaction.
On the stand, Turner admitted to sending fake wire transfers from her bank account, but stated that she did so to protect her son from being exploited. She explained that she was managing her son’s business dealings and had resorted to sending fraudulent transfers as a way to investigate the individuals involved in their transactions.
Turner added that the luxury items, including jewelry and cars, were essential to maintaining her son’s image as a celebrity.
Defense attorneys argued that there was no proof of intent to defraud, pointing out that some of the alleged victims were reimbursed or had their merchandise returned. They also claimed that the mother and son did not have fraudulent intentions.
Prosecutors, however, stated that Kingston and Turner, who is a Jamaican exploited their celebrity status to avoid paying for high-end items.
