Image source, Getty Images
- author, Laura Blasi
- Role, BBC News, Washington
Rapper Sean Kingston has agreed to be extradited to Florida, where he and his mother face charges of committing more than $1 million in fraud and theft.
Kingston signed papers waiving his right to challenge his extradition before a California court, the San Bernardino County Police Department confirmed to the BBC.
It is not clear when Mr. Kingston will return to Florida.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office accused Kingston, 34, and his mother, Janice Turner, 61, of stealing jewelry, money, a luxury car and more in an alleged scheme to defraud multiple businesses out of more than $1 million, according to arrest warrants.
Florida police raided a home near Fort Lauderdale where court documents said the singer – whose legal name is Kisan Anderson – lived in February.
The Jamaican-born singer, known for songs such as Beautiful Girls, Fire Burning and Eenie Meenie, reportedly remained in a Southern California prison on Tuesday. According to the Associated Press news agency. California sheriff’s officials told the news agency they will coordinate with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office on extraditing him.
In a separate lawsuit, a company accused Kingston of not paying the full price for a large television and sound system.
The company alleges that Kingston “induced” the company to install the products “with as small a down payment as possible” by making “numerous false representations,” including a suggestion that he would create promotional videos for the company with Justin Bieber.
After the installation, the company claims that Mr. Kingston failed to make the remaining payments and sues 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’m fine and so is my mother,” the singer said in response to reports of his mother’s arrest.
“My lawyers are handling everything as we speak,” he added.
After the arrest, a lawyer representing the couple acknowledged the allegations against them, telling the Associated Press: “We look forward to addressing these allegations in court and are confident of reaching a successful resolution.”
