Sean Kingston’s mother, Janice Turner, took the stand on Thursday, March 27, during their $1 million fraud trial, where she admitted to sending fake wire transfers in an effort to protect her son.
Turner, 61, acknowledged sending the fraudulent wire transfers but explained that she did so to protect Sean from being taken advantage of, as he had been in the past. She further stated that the fake transfers allowed her to better vet the individuals she was sending money to.
Kingston and his mother are accused of defrauding multiple businesses, including a jeweler, a furniture maker, and a high-end car dealer, for a combined total of over $1 million. Moshe Edery, a Florida jeweler, testified that he provided Kingston with a $285,000 Audemars Piguet watch based on the promise of payment and future business opportunities. However, Edery claimed the wire transfer sent by Turner was fraudulent. He also stated that the deal with Kingston damaged his reputation, ultimately resulting in the loss of his job.
Ariel Mateos, the owner of a company that sold Kingston a 232-inch television worth $115,000, testified that he received a $30,000 down payment but was later sent fake wire transfers for the remaining balance. Mateos’ attorney, Dennis Carr, revealed details of Kingston’s alleged scheme on the day of his arrest, stating, “He’s got a script. He says he works with Justin Bieber and puts on a big show here. This is a rental house. He doesn’t own it, and he lures people using his celebrity to get them to release goods without him paying, and then he simply never pays.”
During the trial, Kingston and his mother were seen holding Bibles while listening to witness testimony. As they left the courthouse, Kingston briefly addressed the media, saying, “All my fans that supported, I love you guys.”
Source: Local 10
