Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother were found guilty in their federal trial in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on four counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Kingston, 35, and his mother, Janice Turner, 61, were first indicted on the counts along with a fifth count of wire fraud that was dropped last July. They said they made bank transfers or wire payments for a variety of goods, including luxury cars and jewelry, that they didn’t actually make.
The pair accrued property worth over $1 million through this scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida explained in a release from July. The mother and son face up to 20 years in prison for each count.
While Turner was immediately taken into custody following the verdict Friday, Kingston’s sister offered $200,000 in bail, with his aunt proffering her home as collateral. He will be kept on house arrest, according to CBS News.
Kingston, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, cried in the courtroom and asked the U.S. marshals taking his mother into custody to protect her, reported Miami’s WPLG.
His request to be allowed to go to Texas to perform was denied. The mother and son are due for sentencing on July 11.
“We do not agree with the verdict. We are thankful that Mr. Kingston was allowed to remain out on bond while awaiting sentencing. We will file an appeal at that time,” a lawyer for Kingston told USA Today.
A lawyer for Turner told the outlet that her team plans to appeal as well.
Kingston is best known for his 2007 debut single “Beautiful Girls” and his 2009 hit “Fire Burning.”
