Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, have been found guilty of orchestrating a multi-million dollar fraud scheme targeting luxury businesses. A federal jury in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, delivered the verdict on Friday after just 3½ hours of deliberation, convicting both on multiple counts of wire fraud.
Kingston, 34, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, and his 61-year-old mother were accused of defrauding high-end retailers, including a jewelry company, a luxury bed manufacturer, an exotic car dealership, and a microLED TV seller.
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Prosecutors detailed how Kingston leveraged his celebrity status and social media influence to convince businesses to deliver expensive goods before payment. Turner allegedly handled follow-ups on delivery arrangements before fraudulent wire transfers were made.
Court documents revealed that the scam had been in operation for several years, with transactions spanning multiple states. The scheme ultimately fell apart in March 2024, leading to a federal indictment in July.
Following their conviction, Kingston was ordered to remain under house arrest with electronic monitoring. To secure his release until sentencing, he must post a $500,000 surety bond and $200,000 in cash. Meanwhile, Turner was immediately remanded into federal custody and will remain jailed until her sentencing in July.
As the guilty verdicts were read in court, both Kingston and his mother were seen wiping away tears. Turner’s attorney, Humberto Dominguez, argued during closing statements that she was only trying to protect her son from people seeking to exploit him financially. However, the judge ruled that her testimony amounted to obstruction, making her ineligible for bail.
The case gained significant attention after Kingston was arrested in May at Fort Irwin, California, on a warrant issued by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. His arrest followed a dramatic SWAT raid on his mansion in Southwest Ranches, a wealthy community in Broward County. Authorities seized various luxury items allegedly obtained through fraudulent transactions.
During the trial, prosecutors highlighted Kingston’s lavish lifestyle, arguing that his extravagant spending habits were funded by deception. Despite pleading not guilty, the evidence—including fraudulent wire transfers and business communications—painted a damning picture of an elaborate financial scam.
Initially, Kingston expressed a desire to “speak his truth” in court, but he ultimately decided against testifying. This decision, according to the judge, contributed to his eligibility for house arrest instead of immediate incarceration.
In contrast, Turner took the stand in her defense, but the judge ruled that her testimony was misleading and obstructive. He stated that her actions made it clear she would do anything to protect her son, which played a key role in her being denied bail.
Both Kingston and Turner are scheduled for sentencing on July 11. Given the scale of the fraud and the financial losses incurred by victims, they could face significant prison time.
As he left the courtroom, Kingston thanked the judge for his fairness but declined to speak to reporters. The Jamaican-born artist, best known for his 2007 hit “Beautiful Girls,” departed in a Lamborghini Urus, maintaining the high-profile image that played a central role in the fraud allegations.
