Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother Janice Turner were found guilty of wire fraud charges in a Florida courtroom on Friday. The duo, who swindled over $1 million from car dealerships, banks, and a mattress firm, will face up to 20 years in prison for their crimes.
Kingston, 35, and Turner, 62, were convicted of all five charges they faced stemming from their May 2024 arrest. Prosecutors allege the pair used fraudulent documents to get luxury cars, jewelry, and other goods from their victims.
Turner, who has a history of similar crimes, was accused of being the “fixer and nerve center” of the scheme. She served a year and a half in prison after pleading guilty to stealing over $160,000 in a bank fraud scheme back in 2006.
Kingston’s defense team described him as a “child” who didn’t understand finances and would spend the money without regard. However, prosecutors said Kingston and Turner “unjustly enriched themselves” by telling various sellers they sent out wire transfers for payment when no such payments were made.
The pair had previously been sued on two separate occasions and forced to pay over $300,000 in both cases. They are also facing a civil lawsuit that seeks payment of damages for breach of contract and fraud after Kingston ordered high-end items without making promotional videos as promised.
Kingston was placed under house arrest with a $200,000 surety bond and has to put up a relative’s $500,000 house as part of the bond requirement. The sentencing hearings are set for July 11, when the pair will face up to 20 years in prison for their crimes.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/sean-kingston-breaks-down-mom-055946604.html