Singer Sean Kingston has been arrested in California, hours after police raided his Florida mansion, during which his mother was also arrested.
Kingston, accused in February of not fully paying for a large TV and sound system, was taken into custody in Fort Irwin, southern California, on fraud and theft charges based on a Florida warrant, according to police.
In an earlier social media post, Kingston said his lawyers were “handling everything.”
The Florida police raid targeted a residence near Fort Lauderdale where the singer, legally named Kisean Anderson, was listed as living in court documents from February. US media, including CBS News, reported that Kingston’s mother was the woman arrested.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the raid to the BBC, stating that they served arrest and search warrants at the property. “As a result of the investigation, an adult female, Janice Turner, 2/16/1963, was taken into custody on numerous fraud and theft charges. This investigation is active and ongoing.”
Officers were seen removing goods from the house afterward. It was not immediately clear if the arrests were linked to the company’s allegations.
Kingston’s arrest in southern California was without incident, according to US media. The BBC has requested further comment from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Kingston and his mother, known on Instagram as Mama Kingston, have also been asked for a response.
Before his arrest, Kingston addressed the situation on Instagram, stating, “I am good and so is my mother,” and adding, “My lawyers are handling everything as we speak.”
A lawyer representing Kingston and his mother acknowledged the allegations 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 obtained by the press, Ver Ver Entertainment alleges that Sean Kingston contacted the company via social media in September 2023 to purchase a “232-inch Colossal TV, coupled with a robust sound system.”
The company claims Kingston persuaded them to install the products with “as small a downpayment as possible” by making “numerous false representations,” including a promise to create promotional videos for the company with Justin Bieber.
Following the installation, Ver Ver Entertainment alleges that Kingston failed to make the remaining payments, leading to a lawsuit for breach of contract and fraud.
A lawyer representing Ver Ver Entertainment told Miami’s Local 10 news that the company hopes to retrieve the equipment from Kingston’s 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.”
Sean Kingston, 34, is known for hits such as “Beautiful Girls,” “Fire Burning,” and “Eenie Meenie” featuring Justin Bieber.
