Sean Kingston, the singer best known for his 2007 hit “Beautiful Girls”, and his mother, Janice Turner, have been convicted of federal wire fraud in the United States. A jury found both guilty on all counts following a five-day trial, as per official court documents reviewed by USA TODAY.
The two were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud, with each charge carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Turner was immediately taken into U.S. Marshals custody after the verdict. The judge has recommended that she remain in custody at the Miami Federal Detention Center until sentencing.
Sean Kingston, whose legal name is Kisean Paul Anderson, will not be jailed immediately. However, his bond conditions have been modified. He will now be placed under home detention with electronic monitoring, and must hand over $200,000 in cash to the U.S. District Court for Southern Florida.
Both Kingston and Turner are scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2025.
How Did They Commit the Fraud?
The federal case claims that from April 2023 to March 2024, Kingston and his mother carried out a scheme to defraud vendors. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, they falsely claimed to have made bank wire transfers to pay for expensive goods, including jewelry, cars, and electronics.
In reality, they never paid for the items but still took possession of them. The total value of these items ran into hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some of the fraudulent purchases included:
- Watches obtained using fake wire transfers of $285,000 and $480,000
- A luxury car worth $160,000
- Around $40,000 worth of audio and video equipment
Kingston Used His Fame to Trick Businesses
Prosecutors say Kingston used his celebrity image to gain the trust of businesses. He would convince vendors to deliver goods or services without full payment upfront, based on false promises.
The indictment described this behavior as an attempt to “unjustly enrich themselves” by misleading people with fake payment proofs.
State Charges Still Pending
Aside from the federal charges, Kingston and Turner are also facing state-level charges in Florida. The Broward Sheriff’s Office accuses them of running a long-term scheme involving:
- Grand theft
- Fraudulent use of personal information
- False representation to obtain goods and services
These charges cover a period from October 2023 to March 2024, and the trial for those cases has not yet begun.