Jamaican-American singer Sean Kingston, best known for his 2007 chart-topping single “Beautiful Girls,” may now be unable to afford a lawyer in his ongoing state fraud case, according to a Local10 report.
The 35-year-old artist, whose real name is Kisean Paul Anderson, is set to be sentenced on August 15 alongside his mother, Janice Turner, 62, in a federal wire fraud case. A jury found the pair guilty in March of orchestrating a $1 million scheme involving luxury goods—including a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade, a giant television, and high-end watches—many of which were seized during a raid at Kingston’s Southwest Ranches home.
But Kingston’s legal troubles don’t end there. He is also facing several felony charges in Broward County court, including organized scheme to defraud and grand theft. His attorney in that case, Robert Rosenblatt, has filed a motion to withdraw, citing Kingston’s “substantial” failure to pay legal fees. Local10 reports that Rosenblatt also indicated in court documents that Kingston may now be indigent and has asked the court to determine if the entertainer qualifies for a public defender.
A hearing on the matter is scheduled for July 11 in Broward County.
Turner, who was described by the federal judge as “the fixer, the nerve center” of the fraud operation, was immediately taken into custody following the guilty verdict on March 28. Kingston, who had been on home detention pending sentencing, was later detained after failing to meet bond requirements.
Neither Kingston nor Turner is currently listed in federal or county jail records. Turner has separate legal representation in the state case.
During the federal trial, prosecutors presented testimony from several alleged victims, painting a picture of a lavish fraud scheme. Kingston’s defense team argued he was financially reckless but not criminally culpable, placing the bulk of the blame on his mother.
Both Kingston and Turner face up to 20 years in prison if handed the maximum sentence for the federal wire fraud conviction.
