There seems to be an increasing number of daily news stories detailing celebrities’ alleged crimes and scandals nationwide. From musicians getting into trouble for wild behavior to prominent politicians facing big legal problems, there’s no end to celebrities breaking the rules. Usually, these cases aren’t too serious, but recently, the famous rapper Sean Kingston took on ten counts of fraud and theft, amounting to millions of dollars in defrauded money. Discover more about Sean Kingston’s arrest and the full context of his previous legal encounters.
According to an arrest warrant issued by police on May 20th, Kingston is facing ten charges in Broward County, Florida. The warrant also named his mother, Janice Turner, for similar charges.
On May 23rd, 2024, police arrested Kingston at Fort Irwin in California, where he performed. Earlier in the same day, SWAT had raided his Fort Lauderdale mansion and arrested his mother for similar charges.
As it stands, authorities are charging both Kingston and his mother with multiple high-profile counts of fraud and thievery. Since the warrants come from Florida, both must attend hearings there. Kingston must arrange an extradition hearing while his mother remains detained in Florida.
According to reports from The Associated Press, Kingston has signed papers agreeing to waive an extradition trial. This allows authorities to promptly transfer him to Florida for further prosecution regarding his legal matters.
Concerning his arrest, Kingston said, “People love negative energy! I am good, and so is my mother! My lawyers are handling everything as we speak.”
In a statement with NBC News, Kingston’s lawyers said, “We were in the process of having him return to Florida after his show. We want him back ASAP so we can show this is merely a civil case and not criminal. We look forward to challenging this case in court.”
Who is Sean Kingston?
Sean Kingston, an American rapper and singer, was born in 1990 in Miami, Florida, although he spent much of his childhood in Jamaica. He is best known for his hit single “Beautiful Girls,” released in 2007. Kingston has also gained recognition for other singles and collaborations, such as “Eenie Meenie,” produced with Justin Bieber. Kingston has earned several awards throughout his music career, including a MOBO, MTV Video Music Award, and multiple Teen Choice Awards.
What Were Kingston and His Mother Charged With?
Depending on the source you see, the claims of Kingston and his mother’s charges can vary in terms of detail. According to ABC News, the warrants indicate that some of their charges include:
- Stealing more than $500,000 in jewelry.
- Stealing more than $200,000 from Bank of America.
- Stealing $160,000 from the Escalade dealer.
- Stealing more than $100,000 from First Republic Bank.
- Stealing $86,000 from a custom bed maker.
All sources confirm that these charges include grand theft and fraud. Authorities have not provided any specifics to explain these charges in more detail.
Kingston is currently in police custody in California and preparing to be transferred to Florida. His mother has reported being released on bail and is no longer in custody.
Sean Kingston’s Other Legal Trouble
These kinds of charges aren’t the first for Kingston or his mother. In 2006, his mother pleaded guilty to bank fraud in a case covering over $160,000 in lost capital. Federal reports indicated that she spent around 1.5 years in prison for this offense.
Kingston himself was actually on probation during this arrest. His earlier charges were for trafficking stolen property.
As shown by his and his lawyers’ statements, Kingston is not too worried about facing these charges. He and his legal team seem confident in resolving these issues in court. We must stay tuned to see how this infamous artist will fare in the legal proceedings.