A federal grand jury in Miami has charged rapper Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud, according to an indictment filed last week and announced Friday, July 19, 2024 by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
If convicted, the duo faces up to 20 years in prison for each count.
Kingston, 34, born Kisean Anderson, and Turner, 61, were arrested in May following a SWAT team raid on Kingston’s home. This was part of an investigation into allegations that they acquired luxury items without paying for them in full.
“We look forward to litigating this case and defending Sean in federal court,” said Kingston’s attorney, Robert Rosenblatt, in a statement to CNN.
The indictment alleges that Kingston and his mother obtained over $1 million in property through their scheme. Prosecutors claim Kingston used his celebrity status to persuade vendors to “stray from their regular business practices” and provide high-end cars, jewelry, and other expensive items before receiving full payment. They are also accused of using fraudulent documents to show they initiated payments when no payments had been made.
The alleged wire fraud incidents occurred between April 11, 2023, and March 29, 2024.
On Friday, Kingston was released on a $10,000 cash bond, and Turner was released on a $5,000 cash bond, as per court documents. Their next court appearance is scheduled for August 9.
“We intend to vigorously defend these charges,” said Turner’s attorney, James Stark. “We hope that everyone keeps in mind that just like every other citizen charged with a crime in our country, they are presumed innocent.”
