Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Miami on multiple charges, including one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud.
According to CNN, The indictment, filed last week and announced on Friday by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, alleges that the duo engaged in a scheme to acquire over $1 million in luxury items without full payment.
Kingston, 34, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, and his mother, 61, were arrested in May following a SWAT team raid on Kingston’s home.
The arrest stemmed from an investigation into their alleged fraudulent activities. If convicted, both face up to 20 years in prison for each count.
According to the indictment, Kingston and Turner exploited Kingston’s celebrity status to persuade vendors to provide high-end cars, jewelry, and other expensive items before receiving full payment.
The pair allegedly used fraudulent documents to mislead vendors into believing that payments had been initiated when, in fact, no such payments were made. The wire fraud incidents reportedly occurred between April 11, 2023, and March 29, 2024.
Kingston has been released on a $10,000 cash bond, while Turner has been released on a $5,000 cash bond, according to court documents. Their next court appearance is scheduled for August 9.
“We look forward to litigating this case and defending Sean in federal court,” said Kingston’s attorney, Robert Rosenblatt. Turner’s attorney, James Stark, echoed the sentiment, stating, “We intend to vigorously defend these charges. We hope that everyone keeps in mind that just like every other citizen charged with a crime in our country, they are presumed innocent.”
The case underscores the severity of wire fraud charges and the potential legal consequences for those accused of such crimes.
As the legal proceedings unfold, both defendants will have the opportunity to present their defense in court.
