Sean Kingston arrested in San Bernardino County after SWAT raid at singer's Florida mansion

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Friday, May 24, 2024
Singer Sean Kingston arrested in SoCal on fraud, theft charges
The Jamaican-American rapper is best known for his 2007 No. 1 single "Beautiful Girls," his collaboration with Justin Bieber on "Eenie Meenie" and "Take You There."

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (KABC) -- Sean Kingston was arrested in San Bernardino County on fraud and theft charges following a SWAT raid at his Florida mansion on Thursday, authorities said.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office said Kingston was arrested without incident on a Florida warrant in the area of Fort Irwin in the High Desert.

His arrest in Southern California came hours after a SWAT team raided the singer's rented South Florida mansion and arrested his mother, 61-year-old Janice Turner, on fraud and theft charges.

After the raid, reporters outside the home could see authorities filling a loading van with goods. The mansion was surrounded by expensive sports cars.

An attorney who witnessed his mother's arrest said the detentions are partly related to a lawsuit he filed against Kingston in February accusing him of defrauding a Florida company that installed in his home a 232-inch (5.8 meter) television - or approximately 17 feet by 9.5 feet (5 meters by 3 meters).

"People love negative energy!" Kingston posted on Instagram. "I am good, and so is my mother! ... My lawyers are handling everything as we speak."

Kingston, whose real name is Kisean Paul Anderson, will be held in California pending extradition to Florida.

Kingston, 34, is known for hit songs such as "Beautiful Girls," "Take You There," and "Eenie Meenie" with Justin Bieber.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.