Rapper Sean Kingston and Mother Indicted on $1 Million Wire Fraud Charges, Face Decades in Prison

Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, are facing severe legal consequences after being indicted on federal fraud charges.

The pair, including Kingston, 34, and Turner, 61, were charged on Friday, July 19, in Miami in connection with a $1 million (£774,173) wire fraud scheme.

The Beautiful Girls hitmaker was first arrested in May on fraud charges (Picture: Matt Baron/BEI/REX/Shutterstock)

The indictment, stemming from their arrests in May, includes one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. The charges revolve around a scheme where Kingston and Turner allegedly defrauded sellers of high-end vehicles, jewellery, and other goods by falsely representing that they had completed bank wire or other monetary payment transfers.

He allegedly committed $1,000,000 of fraud (Picture: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

According to the United States Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Florida, the scheme involved payments through banks that were never processed, resulting in the defendants unlawfully acquiring over $1 million worth of property. Investigators revealed that Kingston and Turner kept the fraudulently obtained items without paying for them.

Jail records show 34-year-old Kingston was booked into the Broward County jail on Sunday, June 2, 2024 (Picture: AP)

Between October 2022 and March 2023, the mother and son duo allegedly stole nearly $500,000 (£387,191) in jewellery, over $200,000 (£154,876) from Bank of America, $160,000 (£123,901) from a Cadillac Escalade dealer, more than $100,000 (£77,438) from First Republic Bank, and $86,000 (£74,340) from customized beds. Each faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

This indictment follows Kingston’s recent troubles with the law, including a state arrest in Broward County last month on similar charges. Previously, he was apprehended at an army training base in Fort Irwin, California, where he was performing for the United States Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Programs.

His mother, Janice Turner, also has a legal history (Picture: AP)

Turner was also arrested on May 23, with a SWAT team raiding Kingston’s Florida mansion. Before these charges, Turner was already serving a two-year probation sentence for trafficking stolen property. Her legal history includes a 2006 conviction for filing false loan applications and bank fraud involving $132,000 (£102,218), for which she served nearly 18 months in prison. Turner is also involved in a civil lawsuit over $100,000 (£77,438) in unpaid rent for another property.

The mother and son previously expressed confidence in a ‘successful resolution’ (Picture: Albert L. Ortega/WireImage)

Kingston and Turner have expressed confidence in a favourable resolution despite the charges’ gravity. Kingston recently updated his fans on Instagram, teasing new music and maintaining a positive outlook. Before his initial arrest, he had also reassured fans via Instagram, stating, “People love negative energy! I am good, and so is my mother!”

Kingston posted to social media this weekend, promising new music for his fans (Picture: Instagram)

Kingston, known for his 2007 hit single “Beautiful Girls,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100, has had a successful career, including a top 20 follow-up single “Eenie Meenie” featuring Justin Bieber. Kingston has earned several accolades throughout his career, including a MOBO and Teen Choice awards.

Dan Olczak

"Editor with expertise in politics and crime, also known for travel blogging."

See Full Bio