Rapper Sean Kingston & Mother Found Guilty of Fraud

Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother were found guilty of wire fraud on all counts in their federal trial in Florida. Both were accused of defrauding a jewelry business, a luxury bed company, a microLED TV company, and an exotic car dealership.

Jurors delivered the guilty verdict after a three and a half hour deliberation. Kingston was ordered to be confined to house arrest with electronic monitoring. He must post a surety bond of a home valued at $500,000 and $200,000 in cash as part of his sentencing. Meanwhile, his mother was taken into federal custody and will remain there until sentencing—which is scheduled for July 11.

Sean Kingston was arrested in Fort Irwin, California in May 2024 after a warrant was issued by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. A SWAT team raided his home in Southwest Ranches, a community within Broward county. His mother was arrested during this raid, which occurred just hours before Kingston himself was arrested in California.

Kingston and his mother would target luxury businesses and vendors. Using Kingston’s celebrity status, the pair convicted companies to provide high-end goods including jewelry, vehicles, and electronics with no upfront payment. The pair promised wire transfers that never materialized. Prosecutors in the case revealed the extent of the fraud, including fake wire transfer receipts, fabricated payment documents, and lying about celebrity partnerships.

Kingston falsely told one home theater vendor that he was partnered with Justin Bieber to obtain a $150,000 home theater system—under the guise of future promotion. His mother Janice Turner, played a critical role in the deception by coordinating deliveries of goods and sending fraudulent payment confirmations. The duo acquired luxury watches, a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade, and expensive bedding through these fraudulent tactics.

Judge David D. Leibowitz allowed Kingston to post bond and remain out of custody due to his decision to remain silent. His mother testified, which the judge said “amounted to obstruction” and was a factor in his decision to remand her to federal custody. Judge Leibowitz said the testimony “makes it impossible to believe she wouldn’t do anything for her son.”