Bond set at $100,000 for singer Sean Kingston, held at Broward jail on fraud charges
FORT LAUDERDALE - A Broward judge has set a $100,000 bond for singer Sean Kingston, who is facing million-dollar fraud charges. Kingston is accused of stealing money, jewelry, a Cadillac Escalade SUV, and furniture.
Kingston, 34, whose real name is Kesean Anderson, was booked into Broward County jail late Sunday, days after the Jamaican-born artist was extradited to Florida.
At his bond hearing, Kingston listened intently as a judge outlined the 10 criminal charges, which included grand theft, fraud, criminal use of personal identification and violation of probation for trafficking stolen property.
Kingston's lawyers said that since a Florida judge had already set a bond on the violation of probation charge, he should be eligible for release.
Kingston is expected to be released from jail soon.
Bob Rosenblatt, an attorney for Kingston and his mom, said "He signed a waiver but it was under coercion."
Whatever the circumstance, Rosenblatt says his client committed no crime. "Well, I don't know who is claiming they owe money. You know, we were aware of the watches, we are aware of the TV issue."
"If there are other issues I'm not sure about... It's a breach of contract. There's no fraud here. There's no organized fraud at all."
Rosenblatt plans to file a not-guilty plea and ask for a jury trial and when CBS News Miami asked, "How confident is he in getting these charges dismissed?" He told us, "very confident."
Kingston and his 61-year-old mother Janice Turner have been charged with conducting an organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, identity theft, and related crimes, according to arrest warrants released by the Broward Sheriff's Office. The warrants allege they stole money, jewelry, a Cadillac Escalade and furniture.
Kingston was arrested last month at Fort Irwin, an Army training base in California's Mojave Desert where he was performing. Last Tuesday, he waived his right to fight the extradition.
On the same day of his arrest, Turner was taken into custody when police raided a Southwest Ranches mansion he had been renting.
Though it's been years since Kingston had a hit, fans who knew him said Kingston had a concert at Florida State that was packed.
"When I was growing up, he was on the Disney channel. I've always been a fan of his," said Laura, a fan.
The warrants against Sean Kingston and his mother
The warrants in the case say that from October to March they stole almost $500,000 in jewelry, more than $200,000 from Bank of America, $160,000 from the Escalade dealer, more than $100,000 from First Republic Bank, $86,000 from the maker of customized beds. Specifics were not given.
At the time of his arrest, Kingston was on two years' probation for trafficking stolen property.
Turner is facing eight counts of fraud and theft. Kingston is facing the same charges plus a probation violation.
His mother pleaded guilty in 2006 to bank fraud for stealing over $160,000 and served nearly 1.5 years in prison, according to federal court records.
The Jamaican American performer had a No. 1 hit with "Beautiful Girls" in 2007 and collaborated with Justin Bieber on the song "Eenie Meenie."
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Associated Press Writer Terry Spencer contributed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
