Sean Kingston breaks down in court as he and his mother may face decades in prison in $1M fraud case
BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA: Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, 62, have been found guilty of a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme that deceived banks, car dealerships, jewelers, and even a mattress company out of more than $1 million.
The Fort Lauderdale federal court jury convicted both of all five charges after just four days of trial and three-and-a-half hours of deliberation, according to The Sun.
Sean Kingston's emotional courtroom scenes
Sean Kingston broke down in tears as US Marshals took his mother into custody.
Clasping his hands together, the singer pleaded, “Protect my mother.”
Turner was ordered to remain in Broward County Jail after being deemed a flight risk.
The judge labeled her the "fixer and nerve center" of the operation, noting her prior conviction in a 2006 bank fraud case, for which she served 18 months.
Kingston, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, was placed under house arrest with strict bond conditions, including a $200,000 cash surety and a $500,000 property bond.
He must wear an electronic monitor until sentencing.
Inside Sean Kingston and Janice Turner's fraudulent scheme
Prosecutors accused Kingston and Turner of "unjustly enriching themselves" by using fraudulent wire transfers to acquire luxury goods.
Victims testified about being duped into handing over nearly half a million dollars in jewelry, a bulletproof Escalade, and a massive 232-inch television.
Florida jeweler Mosche Edery recounted how Kingston tricked him into handing over an expensive watch, falsely promising a $368,000 wire transfer that never materialized.
He also claimed Kingston falsely offered business exposure by introducing him to celebrity clients.
Investigation and trial against Sean Kingston
Authorities uncovered the scam after a civil lawsuit was filed in February by Ver Ver Entertainment, alleging Kingston never fulfilled a promotional deal for a $111,000 sound system.
The lawsuit prompted a federal raid on Kingston’s South Florida mansion on May 23, during which Turner was arrested on the spot.
Kingston was later detained in California after performing at Fort Irwin for the US Army.
Prosecutors emphasized a pattern of fraud dating back years, citing previous lawsuits against the rapper.
In 2015, he was ordered to pay over $300,000 for failing to compensate a custom watch seller.
In 2018, he was again sued for scamming a New York jeweler out of nine pieces of jewelry.
Potential sentences and next steps in Sean Kingston and Janice Turner's case
Each fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, meaning Kingston and Turner could face up to 100 years in prison.
Their sentencing is scheduled for July 11 at 11 am.
Factors such as prior convictions and cooperation with authorities will influence the final verdict.
Attorney Dennis Card, who represents Ver Ver Entertainment, described Kingston as a “serial scammer,” stating, “He has a sales pitch that he uses to defraud people into giving him really expensive things.”
