Sean Kingston, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, has been sentenced by a Florida court to 42 months in prison after being convicted in a wire fraud scheme that targeted luxury vendors across the United States. Prosecutors said Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, used his celebrity status to acquire high-end goods without paying for them, presenting victims with fake wire receipts as proof of payment.
Among the items obtained were designer watches, an oversized 232-inch LED television, luxury furniture, and a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade, with the total value exceeding $1 million. Authorities revealed that Kingston frequently contacted vendors on social media, inviting them to his South Florida homes and promising to promote their products to his millions of followers and celebrity connections. Instead, many never received legitimate payment, while a few were only compensated after legal action or intervention by law enforcement.
The 35-year-old singer, who first rose to fame in 2007 with his Billboard No. 1 single Beautiful Girls, apologized in court, telling the judge he had learned from his mistakes. His legal team had argued for home detention, citing his non-violent history, charitable work, and repayment of several victims. However, Judge David Leibowitz imposed a prison term along with three years of supervised release, while setting a restitution hearing for October.
Turner, 61, was sentenced in July to five years in prison and three years of probation. During her hearing, she admitted to falsifying financial documents to “help her son stay afloat” in the music industry. Prosecutors presented text messages between mother and son, including one in which Kingston wrote, “I told you to make [a] fake receipt.”
Kingston was first arrested in May 2024 when a SWAT team raided his Fort Lauderdale mansion. His mother was taken into custody at the scene. Both were indicted on charges of wire fraud spanning from April 2023 to March 2024.
Despite his legal troubles, Kingston remains a recognizable name in the music industry. He has released multiple albums and collaborated with stars like Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, and Chris Brown. His attorney, Zeljka Bozanic, described him as “a soft guy who grew up poor and rose to fame overnight,” adding that Kingston is treating the case as a learning experience and may pursue appeals.
