Rapper and singer Sean Kingston and his mother have been indicted on federal charges of committing more than $1m (£774m) worth of fraud. 

The Beautiful Girls singer, 34, and his 61-year-old mother Janice Turner are accused of participating in a scheme to defraud victims of high-end speciality vehicles, jewellery and other goods through the use of fraudulent documents.

Back in May, a SWAT team in Florida raided the singer’s rented mansion in a suburb of celebrity-favourite Fort Lauderdale and arrested Turner over fraud and theft linked to the installation of a gigantic TV.

Kingston was arrested later the same day at Fort Irwin, a US army base in California’s Mojave Desert where he was performing, and charged with similar offences at state level.

The pair made their first appearances in a federal court in Miami on Friday.

According to the federal indictment, the mother-and-son falsely claimed that they had executed electronic bank transfers and other payment transfers for high-end items when no such transactions had taken place.

Police said they then kept over $1m worth of fraudulently purchased items despite not paying for them.

From October 2023 to March this year, the pair allegedly defrauded almost $500,000 worth of jewellery, more than $200,000 from the Bank of America, $160,000 from a Cadilac Escalade dealer, more than $100,000 from First Republic Bank and $86,000 from the maker of customised beds.

Read more from Sky News:
Man charged after bus set on fire during Leeds riots
Jessie J reveals ADHD and OCD diagnosis

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Robert Rosenblatt, the lawyer representing Kingston and his mother, did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

He previously said they looked forward to addressing the charges and were “confident of a successful resolution”.

Jamaican American performer Kingston had a number one hit with Beautiful Girls in 2007. He went on to collaborate with Justin Bieber on the song Eenie Meenie.

Related posts:

The one where Chinese viewers saw a redacted version of the Friends reunion Rodrigo is youngest to top UK album and singles charts at the same time Fire rips through TV chef Nick Nairn’s restaurant in Scotland Tristan Thompson apologies to Khloe Kardashian for ‘humiliation’ after paternity test Dr Strange actress and husband await verdict on child sex charges Court hears Rebekah Vardy ‘just joking’ amid claims she leaked stories about Riyad Mahrez and Danny Drinkwater Melanie Lynskey, Silo, and Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 Enninful stepping down as British Vogue editor to take on new role Missed out on tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour? Here’s how you can still watch it Bruce Springsteen postpones remainder of 2023 tour Author Sophie Kinsella reveals aggressive brain cancer diagnosis Legally Blonde prequel announced – following Elle Woods in the ’90s