Sean Kingston & Mother Found Guilty of Fraud

• Singer Kisean Anderson and musician Turner are under house arrest with electronic monitoring, and must post a $500,000 surety bond and $200,000 cash for sentencing.

American singer Sean Kingston, famous for his 2007 hit song “Beautiful Girls,” and his mother, Janice Turner, have been convicted of fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Kingston, 35, whose full name is Kisean Anderson, has been placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring. Turner has been taken into custody. Additionally, Kingston must secure a surety bond for a home valued at $500,000 and a cash bond of $200,000. Both are awaiting sentencing on July 11.

The trial, which began on March 24, concluded with closing arguments on March 28. After three and a half hours of deliberation, the jury reached a guilty verdict. Kingston and Turner were found to have defrauded several businesses, including jewelers, a television installment company, and a luxury car dealership. The total value of the items they obtained exceeded $1 million, prosecutors revealed.

Turner was deemed a flight risk, partly due to her testimony during the trial, which led to her detention. In court footage, Kingston can be heard telling U.S. Marshall agents, “Protect my mother,” as he was escorted out of the courthouse.

During the trial, Fort Lauderdale jeweler Moshe Edery testified that Kingston’s failed $285,000 transfer led to a significant loss of credibility for him. Edery described the situation as a scam while on the witness stand.

The pair were initially arrested in May 2024 and appeared in court for the first time in July. They were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. Turner would allegedly facilitate deliveries and wire transfers, only to divert funds through fraudulent means. The scam persisted for several years.

During the trial, the defense argued that the prosecution lacked solid evidence of intent to commit fraud and highlighted that some victims had recovered their money and goods.

Kingston, born in Miami and raised in Jamaica, initially gained international fame with “Beautiful Girls” and continued his career in the 2010s, collaborating with Justin Bieber and appearing on Disney Channel’s Suite Life on Deck.