Audio By Carbonatix
Rapper and singer Sean Kingston and his mother have been indicted in South Florida on federal charges of committing more than $1 million worth of fraud.
Kingston, 34, and his mother, 61-year-old Janice Turner, made their first appearances Friday in federal court, according to court records. A Miami grand jury returned an indictment earlier this month accusing Kingston and his mother of participating in a scheme to defraud victims of high-end specialty vehicles, jewelry and other goods through the use of fraudulent documents.
Kingston was booked into the Broward County jail on similar state charges last month following a May 23 arrest at Fort Irwin, an Army training base in California’s Mojave Desert where he was performing. Turner was arrested the same day as her son, when a SWAT team raided his rented mansion in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
According to the federal indictment, Kingston and Turner falsely claimed that they had executed bank wire or other monetary payment transfers for high-end items when no such transfers had taken place. Investigators said Kingston and Turner then kept over $1 million worth of fraudulently purchased items despite not paying for them.
The warrants for the state charges say that from October to March, they stole almost $500,000 in jewelry, more than $200,000 from Bank of America, $160,000 from a Cadilac Escalade dealer, more than $100,000 from First Republic Bank and $86,000 from the maker of customized beds.
The Jamaican American performer had a No. 1 hit with “Beautiful Girls” in 2007 and collaborated with Justin Bieber on the song “Eenie Meenie.”
Robert Rosenblatt, an attorney for Kingston and his mother, didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment from The Associated Press. He previously said they looked forward to addressing the charges and were “confident of a successful resolution.”
Kingston, whose legal name is Kisean Anderson, was already serving a two-year probation sentence for trafficking stolen property.
His mother pleaded guilty in 2006 to bank fraud for stealing over $160,000 and served nearly 1.5 years in prison, according to federal court records.
Latest Stories
-
Kofi Bentil calls for special court to tackle election-related cases
2 minutes -
Former deputy A-G alleges improper court process in Kpandai election matter
12 minutes -
‘Aben Wo Ha News’ fanbase bond over year-end excursion to Buaben-Fiema and Kintampo falls
14 minutes -
Clerk to parliament overstepped in triggering EC action on Kpandai seat- Tuah-Yeboah
39 minutes -
Nyindam should remain an MP until appeals end – Prof Appiagyei-Atua
43 minutes -
The idea that elections are won at the polling stations generates violence – Kofi Bentil
1 hour -
Parliament’s declaration Kpandai seat vacant was premature – Kofi Bentil
1 hour -
Ashanti Regional Police deploy over 1,000 officers for festive security
1 hour -
Green Communities International appoints Ing. Prof. Douglas Boateng as board chair to drive Africa’s green transition
2 hours -
Ghana’s Sahel envoy facilitates release of Nigerian aircraft from Burkina Faso
2 hours -
MIIF, Gold Fields executives hold strategic talks on potential investment opportunities
2 hours -
Ghana temporarily closes five historic coastal forts for maintenance
2 hours -
Trade Minister tours Ekumfi Juice Factory, assures support for expansion
2 hours -
Canada and Ghana explore new frontiers to boost trade and investment
2 hours -
Gov’t moves to validate national agribusiness policy for inclusive growth
2 hours
