In a stunning turn of events for the music world, singer Sean Kingston and his mother Janice Turner were found guilty on all counts in their federal wire fraud trial on Friday, March 28. The emotional scene unfolded in a Fort Lauderdale, Florida courtroom as the jury delivered their verdict after just three hours of deliberation.
Kingston, 35, and Turner, 62, both shed tears as they learned their fate. The pair shared a heartfelt hug before Turner was taken into federal custody. Kingston, visibly moved, thanked Judge David S. Leibowitz for his fairness during the proceedings and made a plea to federal agents to “protect his mother” as he left the courtroom.
While Turner was immediately placed in custody after the judge deemed her a flight risk, Kingston was allowed to remain free on bond until sentencing. However, he now faces strict conditions – house arrest with electronic monitoring and must post a substantial surety bond consisting of a home valued at $500,000 plus $200,000 in cash.
The mother-son duo was convicted of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud after allegedly defrauding businesses out of more than $1 million. Federal prosecutors claimed they “unjustly enriched themselves” through a scheme where they falsely claimed to have sent money transfers for luxury goods but kept the items even after it was discovered the payments never went through.
Their victims included:
- A jewelry business (defrauded of nearly $500,000)
- A luxury bed company (defrauded of $86,000)
- A used luxury and exotic car dealership (defrauded of $160,000 for a Cadillac Escalade)
- A luxury microLED TV company
The fraud scheme reportedly took place from October 2023 to March 2024, with the pair also accused of stealing more than $200,000 from Bank of America and over $100,000 from First Republic Bank.
Kingston’s defense attorney, Humberto Dominguez, argued during closing statements that Turner was simply trying to protect her son’s finances from people who wanted to take advantage of him. “This case is about a woman’s intuition,” Dominguez told the court.
During the trial, Turner admitted to sending fake wire transfers from her bank account to pay other individuals, claiming it was a protective measure for her son. Judge Leibowitz later stated that Turner’s testimony showed she was the “fixer, the nerve center” for the fraud scheme.
Kingston, who initially told the judge he wanted to “speak his truth,” ultimately decided not to testify in his own defense. His legal team portrayed him as a “child” who was unaware of his financial situation.
This is not the first time Turner has faced legal troubles. She previously served a year and a half in prison after pleading guilty to stealing over $160,000 in a bank fraud scheme back in 2006.
Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The pair is scheduled for sentencing on Friday, July 11, with Turner’s hearing set for 9 a.m. and Kingston’s for 11 a.m.
Sean Kingston rose to fame in 2007 with hit singles like “Beautiful Girls,” “Take You There,” and “Fire Burning.” He also collaborated with Justin Bieber on the popular track “Eenie Meenie.”
In 2022, Kingston told the press he was inspired to return to making his own music after years of producing for other artists, saying, “It’s been incredible having these sold-out shows. The road is tough, but [seeing] so many fans having a good time and singing along to my music, it’s a blessing.”
The conviction marks a dramatic fall for the once-thriving music star, who now faces the possibility of significant prison time.
