Sean Kingston and his mother Janice Turner were both found guilty Friday on all counts in a sweeping federal wire fraud case in Fort Lauderdale, Florida — a verdict that could land the once-chart-topping rapper and his mom behind bars for up to 20 years per charge.
Kingston and Turner back in 2012. Credit: Albert L. Ortega/WireImage/Getty Images
The duo – accused of orchestrating a years-long scheme that defrauded luxury retailers, jewelers, banks, and high-end service providers out of more than $1 million – were convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud following just three and a half hours of jury deliberation, NBC News reports.
Kingston, 34, whose real name is Kisean Paul Anderson, was in tears as the verdict was read, his hands clasped in front of him.
“Protect my mother,” he reportedly cried out as U.S. Marshals led Turner into custody, according to WPLG.
Turner, 62, was described by the judge as the “fixer and nerve center” of the operation.
She was remanded into federal custody immediately following the verdict and ordered held at Broward County Jail until sentencing on July 11. Her son, meanwhile, was granted house arrest with electronic monitoring.