Image source, Getty Images
- Author, Laura Blasey
- Role, BBC News, Washington
Rapper Sean Kingston has agreed to be extradited to Florida, where he and his mother face allegations of committing more than $1m in fraud and theft.
Mr Kingston signed paperwork waiving his right to challenge the extradition in a California court, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed to the BBC.
It is not clear when Mr Kingston will return to Florida.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office accused Mr Kingston, 34, and his mother Janice Turner, 61, of taking jewellery, money, a luxury car and more in an alleged scheme to defraud several businesses out of more than $1 million, according to arrest warrants.
Florida police raided a residence near Fort Lauderdale at which the singer – whose legal name is Kisean Anderson – was named as living in court documents from February.
The Jamaican born singer, known for hits such as Beautiful Girls, Fire Burning, and Eenie Meenie, reportedly remained in a Southern California jail on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press news agency. California sheriff’s officials told the news agency they would coordinate with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office on his extradition.
In a separate lawsuit, a company accused Mr Kingston of not fully paying for a large TV and sound system.
The company claims Mr Kingston “induced” the business to install the products with “as small a downpayment as possible” by making “numerous false representations”, including a suggestion that he would create promotional videos for the company with Justin Bieber.
Following the installation, the company claims Mr Kingston failed to make the remaining payments and it sued him for breach of contract and fraud.
Representatives for Mr Kingston have been contacted for comment.
Before his arrest, Mr Kingston shared a statement on his Instagram account.
“I am good and so is my mother,” the singer said in response to reports that his mother had been arrested.
“My lawyers are handling everything as we speak,” he added.
Following the arrest, a lawyer representing the pair acknowledged that allegations had been made against them, telling the AP news agency: “We look forward to addressing these in court and are confident of a successful resolution.”
Carol Dennis is an entertainment aficionado with an eye for all things pop culture. She dives into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry, from movie premieres to music festivals. Carol’s passion for storytelling extends beyond her reporting, as she’s an aspiring screenwriter in her free time.
