FORT LAUDERDALE – Authorities in Southern California arrested singer Sean Kingston, born Kisean Anderson, on Thursday on multiple fraud and theft charges stemming from a Florida warrant. His arrest came after a raid at his South Florida home earlier that day, which also led to his mother's arrest.
The Broward County Sheriff's Office reported that Kingston was taken into custody in Fort Irwin, California, and will be booked into the San Bernardino jail, located approximately 60 miles east of Los Angeles.
Earlier on Thursday, Kingston's mother was arrested on fraud charges at the artist's Southwest Ranches home, a community in Broward County, 22 miles northwest of Miami.
CBS News Miami's Chopper 4 observed several officers at the home, along with the Broward Sheriff's Office mobile command center, which is used to coordinate police operations.
Court filings from February 2024 indicate that the Jamaican-American artist resides at the property, which is owned by a limited liability company according to county records.
The investigation, which began in Dania Beach, involved BSO's Dania Beach District deputies, BSO's Strategic Investigations Unit, and the Davie Police SWAT team, who executed arrest and search warrants at the home.
As a result, Kingston's mother, Janice Turner, 61, was arrested on multiple fraud and theft charges. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Kingston, who was renting the mansion, is accused of failing to complete payments to VER VER Entertainment for a $150,000 entertainment system, including a 232-inch television.
The complaint alleges that Kingston convinced the company to accept a lower down payment and credit towards the purchase by promising to produce promotional videos featuring Justin Bieber.
"He tells a story. He basically has a script, claiming he works with Justin Bieber and puts on a big show. This is a rental house; he doesn't own it. He lures people using his celebrity to release items without payment, and then he simply never pays," said attorney Dennis Card, who has a civil case against Kingston.
CBS News Miami has reached out to Kingston and his lawyers for comment, but they have not responded at the time of publication.
Sean Kingston's Legal Troubles
Kingston, 34, is known for his hit songs "Beautiful Girls," "Fire Burning," and "Eenie Meenie."
In 2021, music video producer GXDLIKE accused Kingston of punching him in the face and threatening him with a gun, as reported by TMZ. Kingston has denied these allegations.
In 2020, a warrant was issued for his arrest for grand theft after reportedly receiving jewelry without payment. Over the years, Kingston has faced several lawsuits from jewelers for allegedly receiving items and failing to pay for them.
In 2016, Kingston was involved in a fight and was robbed of a $300,000 chain at the Penthouse Nightclub & Dayclub in Los Angeles, according to TMZ.
In 2011, Kingston crashed his watercraft into a bridge in Miami Beach, resulting in serious injuries to himself and a female passenger. He was hospitalized in critical condition and, during treatment, doctors discovered a torn aorta, necessitating heart surgery.
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