Rapper Sean Kingston agrees to return to Florida in $1m fraud case
Rapper Sean Kingston has agreed to be extradited to Florida, where he and his mother are accused of committing over $1 million in fraud and theft.
Kingston signed paperwork waiving his right to challenge the extradition in a California court, as confirmed by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to the BBC.
He was arrested on May 23 in Fort Irwin, southern California, on the same day Florida police raided his Fort Lauderdale home and arrested his mother.
The exact date of Kingston’s return to Florida remains unclear.
According to arrest warrants, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office accused Kingston, 34, and his mother, Janice Turner, 61, of defrauding several businesses out of more than $1 million by taking jewelry, money, a luxury car, and more.
Florida police raided a residence near Fort Lauderdale where the singer, legally named Kisean Anderson, was listed as living in court documents from February.
The Jamaican-born singer, known for hits such as “Beautiful Girls,” “Fire Burning,” and “Eenie Meenie,” reportedly remained in a Southern California jail on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. California sheriff’s officials informed the news agency that they would coordinate with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office regarding his extradition.
In a separate lawsuit, a company accused Kingston of failing to fully pay for a large TV and sound system. The company alleges that Kingston “induced” them to install the products with “as small a downpayment as possible” by making “numerous false representations,” including a claim that he would create promotional videos for the company with Justin Bieber.
After the installation, the company claims Kingston did not make the remaining payments and subsequently sued him for breach of contract and fraud.
Representatives for Kingston have been contacted for comment.
Before his arrest, Kingston shared a statement on his Instagram account.
“I am good and so is my mother,” the singer said in response to reports that his mother had been arrested.
“My lawyers are handling everything as we speak,” he added.
Following the arrest, a lawyer representing the pair acknowledged that allegations had been made against them, telling the AP news agency: “We look forward to addressing these in court and are confident of a successful resolution.”