Rapper Sean Kingston and mother arraigned on fraud, theft charges

Rapper and singer Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, were in court Monday to face charges of defrauding multiple businesses of more than $1 million.

The performer, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, 34, and Turner both pleaded not guilty to organized fraud and grand theft charges at their arraignment hearing. Kingston was originally arrested in Fort Irwin, California, in May on a warrant issued by the Broward Sheriff’s Office after a SWAT team raided his home in Southwest Ranches.

Since October 2023, Kingston and Turner are accused of defrauding a jewelry business, a luxury bed company, a used luxury and exotic car dealership and a luxury microLED TV company, arrest warrants said.

Bond had already been set at $90,000 in a previous hearing, and Broward Circuit Judge Ernest Kollra made no changes on Monday.

Arraignments take place near the beginning of criminal cases, and Kingston and his mother are expected back in court on Oct. 11. They are also facing related charges in federal court.

Kingston broke into the music scene at the age of 17 in 2007 with the hit “Beautiful Girls,” which laid his lyrics over the musical track of “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at [email protected] or 954-356-4457.