Sean Kingston arrested after police raid singer’s home
Sean Kingston, the singer, was apprehended in California following a police operation at his residence in Florida, where his mother was also detained.
Allegations arose in February from a company claiming that Mr. Kingston failed to fully compensate for a significant television and sound system.
He was apprehended in Fort Irwin, southern California, on charges of fraud and theft based on a warrant from Florida, according to authorities in Florida.
In a prior social media update, Mr. Kingston mentioned that his legal representatives were managing the situation.
The Florida police operation targeted a property near Fort Lauderdale, where the singer, legally named Kisean Anderson, was listed as residing in court documents from February.
Various US media outlets, including CBS News, reported that the arrested woman was Mr. Kingston’s mother.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office, confirming the operation to the BBC, stated that arrest and search warrants were executed at the location.
“As a result of the investigation, an adult female, Janice Turner, born on February 16, 1963, was arrested on multiple charges of fraud and theft.
“The investigation is ongoing.”
After the operation, officers were observed removing items from the residence. It remains unclear if the arrests are related to the company’s accusations.
Mr. Kingston’s apprehension in southern California occurred “without incident,” according to Broward police. He was scheduled to be processed into San Bernardino jail.
Mr. Kingston and his mother, known as Mama Kingston on Instagram, have been contacted for comment.
Before his arrest, Mr. Kingston seemed to address the unfolding events on his Instagram profile.
“I am good and so is my mother,” the singer said in response to reports that the arrested woman was his mother.
“My lawyers are handling everything as we speak,” he added.
A lawyer representing the pair acknowledged that allegations had been made against them, telling the AP news agency: “We look forward to addressing these in court and are confident of a successful resolution.”
In court documents seen by the BBC, Ver Ver Entertainment claims Mr Kingston contacted the company over social media in September 2023 to purchase a “232-inch Colossal TV, coupled with a robust sound system”.
The company claims Mr Kingston “induced” the business to install the products with “as small a downpayment as possible” by making “numerous false representations”, including a suggestion that he would create promotional videos for the company with Justin Bieber.
Following the installation, the company says Mr Kingston failed to make the remaining payments and it sued him for breach of contract and fraud.
A lawyer representing Ver Ver Entertainment told Miami’s Local 10 news that the company was hoping to retrieve it from the house following the police raid.
“We know that our property is inside this house right here, so as soon as the raid takes place, we are going to have a crew of people in there to reassemble it and take it back to its rightful owner.”
Mr Kingston, 34, is known for hits such as Beautiful Girls, Fire Burning, and Eenie Meenie featuring Justin Bieber.
