Sean Kingston and Mother Found Guilty of Federal Wire Fraud

The rapper Sean Kingston, along with his mother, was found guilty of federal wire fraud in March 2024, according to court records. The 35-year-old singer, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, was initially unable to complete a $100,000 bond and was held in a federal prison for several days. He was eventually released after his bond was posted, as confirmed by his attorney, Zeljka Bozanic.

Fraudulent Scheme

Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, were indicted in July 2024 for using the rapper's celebrity influence and social media accounts to defraud sellers of luxury goods. Their scheme, which lasted from April 2023 to March 2024, involved convincing vendors to deliver items before payment and then making fraudulent wire transfers. Prosecutors stated that they defrauded vendors out of over $1 million, with some of the luxury items including a bullet-proof Escalade, watches, and a 232-inch LED TV.

Legal Consequences

A federal jury in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, found Kingston and Turner guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud in March. Following the verdict, Kingston was placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring and was required to post a surety bond of a home valued at $500,000 and $200,000 in cash. Meanwhile, Turner, aged 61, was remanded into federal custody. The sentencing for both individuals is scheduled for July 11, and they face a maximum of 20 years in prison for each count.