Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, have pleaded not guilty to fraud charges amounting to more than $1 million.
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| Sean Kingston performs in Miami in June 2023. Johnny Louis/Getty |
The plea was entered during an arraignment hearing on Monday, August 26, before Broward Circuit Judge Ernest Kollra in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Along with their plea, Kingston (whose real name is Kisean Anderson) and Turner, through their legal team, demanded a jury trial and requested discovery from the state, confirming their intention to fight the charges in court.
The fraud charges come from allegations that Kingston, 34, and his mother, 61, were involved in a scheme to defraud sellers of high-end vehicles, jewelry, and other luxury goods.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, a Miami grand jury indicted both Kingston and Turner on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in prison for each count.
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| Sean Kingston and his mother Janice Turner on February 11, 2011. Steven Lawton/FilmMagic |
The prosecutors alleged that Kingston and Turner falsely claimed to have made payments for these luxury items through bank wires or other monetary transfers. However, the funds were never actually transferred.
The charges detail how the pair allegedly stole nearly $500,000 in jewelry, $160,000 from a dealer selling Cadillac Escalades, and $86,000 from a company that makes custom beds. In total, the scheme is said to have netted them over $1 million in property.
Kingston was arrested on May 23 in California after law enforcement executed arrest and search warrants at the South Florida mansion he was renting. Turner was arrested earlier that same day in Florida.
The arrests followed an investigation that began in February after a lawsuit was filed by Ver Ver Entertainment against Kingston. The lawsuit alleged that Kingston failed to pay for items purchased from the company and presented false representations, including claiming a working relationship with Justin Bieber, with whom Kingston had previously collaborated.
In court, Kingston’s legal team expressed confidence in their case, with his attorney, Robert Rosenblatt, stating, "Once the true facts come out, we are confident of vindication." The judge at the hearing did not alter the previously set $90,000 bond, allowing Kingston to remain free under those terms while awaiting trial.
This isn’t the first time Kingston has faced legal trouble. According to CBS News, the singer was on two years’ probation for trafficking stolen property at the time of his recent arrest.
Despite the serious nature of the charges, Kingston has not publicly addressed the allegations. However, he did post a video on his Instagram Stories on the evening of August 26, telling fans to "stay tuned" for new music coming soon.