Sean Kingston and his mother Janice Turner are now facing a federal jury in Fort Lauderdale, FL, where their trial for multiple counts of fraud officially began on Tuesday. Prosecutors allege the two were involved in a scheme to defraud individuals and businesses out of luxury cars, jewelry, and other goods using fake documents. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Kingston, born Kisean Anderson, and Turner are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. They’re also facing separate state charges. According to arrest warrants filed by the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the alleged crimes span from October 2023 to March 2024 and include stealing nearly $500,000 in jewelry, more than $200,000 from Bank of America, $160,000 from an Escalade dealership, over $100,000 from First Republic Bank, and $86,000 from a luxury bed manufacturer.
Kingston was arrested last May at Fort Irwin, a U.S. Army base in California, while performing. He waived extradition and was returned to Florida. Turner was arrested the same day during a police raid at the Southwest Ranches mansion her son had been renting. At the time, Kingston was already on probation for trafficking in stolen property.
In a separate incident that unfolded before his arrest, Kingston was sued by Ver Ver Entertainment for allegedly failing to pay the full cost of a $150,000 custom entertainment system. According to court documents, Kingston only paid a partial deposit before installation and never completed the payment. The company claims he misled them about a working relationship with Justin Bieber, which he used to negotiate a lower upfront cost and promise of promotional content that never materialized. After failed attempts to collect the remaining balance—including being stood up twice when picking up a promised check—Ver Ver filed a legal complaint in February 2024.
Kingston’s legal troubles go back several years. He has been sued multiple times for allegedly receiving expensive jewelry without payment, with one case involving over $1 million in luxury watches. In 2021, he was accused of assaulting a music video producer and threatening him with a gun, allegations he denied. In 2020, a warrant was issued for grand theft in another jewelry case. His run-ins with jewelers date back to at least 2015, including claims of unpaid watches worth over $350,000.
Turner, too, has a criminal history. In 2006, she pleaded guilty to bank fraud for stealing more than $160,000 and served over a year in prison.
Both mother and son maintain their innocence as the trial unfolds in federal court.
