Ayoko Ahite
Last Updated on April 29, 2025 by Ayoko Ahite
Background
According to federal prosecutors in Miami, Sean Kingston, whose real name is Kisean Paul Anderson, contacted vendors on social media to purchase luxury items, including jewelry, cars, and electronics.
He then allegedly invited those vendors to his rented luxury villas to impress them. He used his celebrity status to earn their trust, going so far as to promise product placement on Social Media or referral of their services to his celebrity friends. This tactic worked, and sellers trusted him. They allowed him to pay overtime.
However, when payment was due, Kingston and his mother, Janice, would send the victims fake wire receipts that she had obtained. Many of their victims became suspicious when they realized that the funds never cleared into their accounts. Some were able to finally get paid once they filed lawsuits or involved law enforcement, but others never got their money. Per prosecutors, the mother and son duo defrauded a total of items worth over $1,000,000.
Charges and Verdict
Kingston and his mother were ultimately indicted and charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. They were convicted on all charges on March 29, 2025, and both face a maximum of twenty years in jail. While Sean Kingston was released on Home Arrest following this verdict, his mother, who is deemed a Flight Risk, was taken into federal custody pending their sentencing hearing scheduled for July 11, 2025.
