Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother detained following a SWAT team raid at their residence, accused of fraud and theft.
Law enforcement officials executed search warrants on a home in Southwest Ranches, a community around 15 miles from Fort Lauderdale. According to the Broward County Sheriff's Office, the homeowner's mother, Janice Turner, was taken into custody during the search, and Kingston was arrested in Fort Irwin, California on Thursday evening.
Both Turner and Kingston face numerous charges of fraud and theft, the Sheriff's Office stated. However, additional information on the offenses and the ongoing investigation was not shared.
Late Thursday, Kingston posted on Instagram, "Negativity draws people in! My mom and I are both okay. Our lawyers are handling everything right now."
CNN reached out to Kingston's publicist for comment, but no lawyer has yet been identified for the musician.
The house that was searched on Thursday is listed as Kingston's residence in a breach of contract lawsuit filed against the singer by Ver Ver Entertainment, a company that specializes in installing and selling premium televisions and audio systems. Court records from February detail the case.
It's unclear whether the lawsuit is linked to the Broward County Sheriff's Office investigation, which the Office claims started in nearby Dania Beach.
The complaint asserts that Kingston contacted Ver Ver in September 2021 about purchasing a 232-inch TV and audio system. The lawsuit claims that Kingston agreed to create promotional materials for the company with singer Justin Bieber in exchange for a lower down payment on the entertainment system.
Kingston paid $30,000 as a down payment, and the entertainment system was installed, according to the complaint. The lawsuit alleges, however, that Kingston failed to complete the remaining payments on the TV and never collaborated with Bieber on promotional content for Ver Ver.
Kingston and Bieber worked together on the 2010 hit song "Eenie Meenie," and Kingston told Ver Ver last year that he had a "present and ongoing working relationship" with Bieber, the suit claims.
The suit alleges that Kingston did not have an active relationship with Bieber and never intended to make promotional content with him for Ver Ver.
Ver Ver tried several times to recover the remaining payments from Kingston, but was unsuccessful. The lawsuit values the television system and its installation at more than $110,000.
Dennis Card, an attorney representing Ver Ver, alleged that Kingston and his mother collaborate on securing expensive items.
"He leads people to believe he's a wealthy, flashy person," Card told CNN.
Kingston's popularity skyrocketed in 2007 with his platinum hit "Beautiful Girls" and his collaboration with Bieber on "Eenie Meenie" boosted his popularity even higher. After releasing a slew of singles and his 2010 album "Back 2 Life," Kingston mainly stayed away from the spotlight until his 2022 album "Road to Deliverance" was released.
Read also:
- Lifestyle 2023 from "Breathless" to cinnamon buns
- Unanimous decision: faster wolf culls possible
- New Year's Eve fireworks: What applies in other countries?
- Ban on New Year's Eve fireworks: no bangs here
The fraud and theft charges against Sean Kingston and his mother could potentially be related to a breach of contract lawsuit filed against the rapper by Ver Ver Entertainment, a company that specializes in installing and selling premium televisions and audio systems.
The television system and its installation, valued at over $110,000, were allegedly installed at Kingston's residence, which was also the focus of the SWAT team raid and subsequent investigation by the Broward County Sheriff's Office.
Source: edition.cnn.com
