Rapper Sean Kingston, known legally as Kisean Paul Anderson, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison following his conviction for a $1.5 million fraud scheme. The scheme, which involved Kingston and his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, deceived sellers into providing luxury items without payment. They were found guilty by a federal jury in March on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud.
Kingston, who appeared in court in a black suit, expressed remorse for his actions and claimed he had learned from the experience. Despite his attorney’s request for him to self-surrender at a later date due to health concerns, the judge mandated that he be taken into custody immediately. Kingston was noted by prosecutors as someone who had become dependent on his celebrity status while failing to maintain a realistic lifestyle.
The prosecution laid out a prolonged pattern of behaviour where Kingston solicited luxury merchandise while neglecting to settle payments. Assistant US Attorney Marc Anton described him as a “thief and a conman.” In contrast, Kingston’s attorney argued that he was essentially naive about his finances, stating that Kingston had relied heavily on business managers and his mother for financial decisions and had little understanding of his financial situation.
In a further development, Turner received a five-year prison sentence last month related to the same charges. Both were arrested in May 2024 after a SWAT team stormed Kingston’s rented mansion in Fort Lauderdale, while Kingston was performing at a military base in California at the time of his arrest.
Court records revealed that from April 2023 to March 2024, Kingston employed social media to negotiate deals for luxury goods, promising sellers exposure in exchange for items. After inviting them to his upscale homes, Kingston or his mother would send counterfeit wire transfer receipts once the items were secured. When these payments failed to materialise, victims often resorted to legal action or law enforcement in order to recover their money.
Kingston, who achieved fame with hits like “Beautiful Girls” in 2007, had previously enjoyed a successful music career, but this recent legal fallout marks a significant downturn in his circumstances. His lawyer highlighted Kingston’s intent to repay his victims once released and able to work again.