MIAMI — Sean Kingston, the well-known rapper and singer, along with his mother, Janice Turner, has been indicted on federal wire fraud charges in South Florida. The indictment, which was returned by a grand jury earlier this month, accuses the duo of being involved in a scheme that defrauded victims of over $1 million worth of high-end specialty vehicles, jewelry, and other luxury goods through the use of fraudulent documents.
Kingston, 34, whose legal name is Kisean Anderson, and Turner, 61, made their first appearances in federal court on Friday. The charges against them include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud. If convicted, both could face up to 20 years in prison for each count.
The allegations state that Kingston and Turner falsely claimed to have executed bank wire transfers or other monetary payments for the luxury items they purchased. However, investigators found that no such transfers had actually taken place. As a result, they retained over $1 million worth of items without making any payments.
According to the indictment, the fraudulent activities occurred between October and March, during which they allegedly stole nearly $500,000 in jewelry, over $200,000 from Bank of America, $160,000 from a Cadillac Escalade dealer, more than $100,000 from First Republic Bank, and $86,000 from a company that manufactures customized beds.
Kingston, who gained fame with his hit song “Beautiful Girls” in 2007 and collaborated with Justin Bieber on “Eenie Meenie,” was already facing legal troubles prior to this indictment. He was arrested on May 23 at Fort Irwin, an Army training base in California, where he was performing. Following his arrest, he was booked into Broward County jail on state charges related to similar fraudulent activities.
Turner was arrested on the same day as her son when a SWAT team executed a raid on Kingston’s rented mansion in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The indictment outlines a pattern of deceitful behavior, where the mother-son duo allegedly enriched themselves by misrepresenting their financial transactions.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, along with Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros of the United States Secret Service and Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony of the Broward Sheriff’s Office, announced the indictment. The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service and the Broward Sheriff’s Office, with the case being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marc Anton and Trevor Jones.
In a statement, Kingston’s attorney, Robert Rosenblatt, expressed confidence in their ability to address the charges. He previously indicated that they were looking forward to a successful resolution and planned to plead not guilty. Rosenblatt emphasized that Kingston had committed no crime and suggested that the issues at hand might be more related to contractual disputes rather than fraud.
Kingston’s legal troubles are compounded by his previous conviction. He was already serving a two-year probation sentence for trafficking stolen property. Additionally, Turner has a history of legal issues, having pleaded guilty to bank fraud in 2006 for stealing over $160,000, for which she served nearly 1.5 years in prison.
The indictment against Kingston and Turner is a significant development in a case that has drawn considerable media attention. The allegations of fraud and deceit have raised questions about the integrity of the individuals involved, particularly given Kingston’s status as a public figure in the music industry.
As the legal proceedings unfold, both Kingston and Turner will have the opportunity to contest the charges in court. The presumption of innocence remains in place until proven guilty, and the upcoming trial will likely reveal more details about the extent of their alleged fraudulent activities.
In the meantime, Kingston has been allowed to travel internationally for performances, indicating that he is not currently facing restrictions that would prevent him from continuing his career in music. His attorney noted that Kingston had recently performed in Africa and expressed gratitude for the government’s decision not to oppose his travel.
As the case progresses, it will be interesting to see how the legal strategies employed by Kingston and Turner will unfold in federal court. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for both their futures, as well as for Kingston’s career in the entertainment industry.
With the indictment now in place, the focus will shift to the upcoming court proceedings, where both defendants will have the chance to present their defense against the serious charges they face. The legal battle ahead promises to be complex and closely watched by fans and the media alike.
Source: CBS/AP
