American singer Sean Kingston and his mother face 20 years in prison

American singer Kisean Anderson, aka Sean Kingston, and his mother Janice Turner appeared in federal court for the first time on Friday to face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.

In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida said the charges stem from the defendants’ participation in a conspiracy in which the victims used forged documents to defraud sellers of high-end specialty vehicles, jewelry and other goods that the defendants had purchased.

The statement said a grand jury in Miami, Florida, indicted Anderson, 34, and Turner, 61, each with conspiracy to commit wire fraud (violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349) and five counts of wire fraud (violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343).

According to the allegations in the indictment, the defendants unlawfully enriched themselves by falsely claiming that they had made bank transfers or other monetary payments for vehicles, jewelry, and other goods they purchased, when in fact no such bank transfers or other monetary payments were made by the purported banks. The defendants then kept or attempted to keep the vehicles, jewelry, and other goods despite non-payment.

By executing this scheme, the defendants obtained property valued at over $1 million.

If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison for each count.