FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Singer and rapper Kisean Anderson, better known as Sean Kingston, and his mother Janice Turner were back in federal court on Tuesday for day two of their trial.
The two are facing multiple federal wire fraud charges.
Prosecutors say the charges stem from allegations that the pair would claim to send bank wire transfers as payment with phony paperwork as a way of defrauding businesses and people out of luxury items.
Tuesday, the government called witness Ariel Mateos, owner of Ver Ver Entertainment LLC., who sold Kingston a 232-inch colossal television valued at $115,000.
Mateos claims he began installing the TV after receiving a down payment of $30,000 but after the project was completed, there were months of back and forth with Kingston through text messages and alleged fake wire transfer receipts. Mateos claims he was never paid the remaining balance.
The defense argued Kingston agreed to promote the colossal TV and Mateos’ services through social media as part of their deal. In court, the defense showed pictures of Mateos and Kingston he hoped would help obtain other customers.
Mateos said that never happened and he was never paid, only relieving his damaged TV after Broward sheriff’s deputies served a warrant at his Southwest Ranches rental home.
Local 10 News watched as the television was removed, along with a number of other luxury items, Kingston and his mother are accused of never paying for.