Rapper Sean Kingston was sentenced to three and a half years in prison on Friday for a $1 million fraud scheme. Kingston’s real name is Kisean Paul Anderson, and his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, was also convicted. Turner was sentenced to five years last month. Both were convicted in March by a federal jury for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud.
Before going to jail, Kingston apologized in court and said he had learned from his mistakes. His lawyer asked if he could go to jail later because of health problems, but the judge ordered he must go right away. Kingston wore a black suit and white shirt, took off his jacket, and was handcuffed and taken out of the courtroom, The Associated Press reported.
Bozanic said Kingston had almost no knowledge of his finances and spent money on superficial things. Bozanic said Kingston has already started paying back victims and plans to repay fully once free. Judge David Leibowitz said Kingston was not unintelligent or naive, but gave him credit for accepting responsibility and not lying in court, as mentioned in the report by The Associated Press.
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The judge said Kingston’s mother obstructed justice in her testimony. Kingston and his mother were arrested in May 2024 after a SWAT raid on Kingston’s mansion in Fort Lauderdale. Turner was arrested during the raid, and Kingston was arrested at Fort Irwin Army base in California where he was performing, as per reports.
Victims often contacted Kingston and Turner repeatedly, but rarely got paid unless they filed lawsuits or involved law enforcement. Kingston was born in Florida and raised in Jamaica, and became famous at age 17 with “Beautiful Girls” in 2007. His other hits include “Take You There” (2007) and “Fire Burning” (2009), reported by The Associated Press.
Sean Kingston was sentenced for a $1 million fraud scheme where he tricked sellers into giving him luxury items without paying.
Q2. How long is Sean Kingston’s prison sentence?
He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, while his mother received five years.
Before going to jail, Kingston apologized in court and said he had learned from his mistakes. His lawyer asked if he could go to jail later because of health problems, but the judge ordered he must go right away. Kingston wore a black suit and white shirt, took off his jacket, and was handcuffed and taken out of the courtroom, The Associated Press reported.
Sean Kingston fraud case
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton said Kingston was addicted to his celebrity lifestyle even though he couldn’t afford it. Anton also said Kingston bullied victims to get luxury items and then refused to pay. Anton called Kingston a “thief and a conman, plain and simple”. Kingston’s attorney Zeljka Bozanic said he thinks like a teenager, relying on his mother and managers for money.Bozanic said Kingston had almost no knowledge of his finances and spent money on superficial things. Bozanic said Kingston has already started paying back victims and plans to repay fully once free. Judge David Leibowitz said Kingston was not unintelligent or naive, but gave him credit for accepting responsibility and not lying in court, as mentioned in the report by The Associated Press.
ALSO READ: Atlanta rapper T-Hood killed in Gwinnett county shooting after domestic dispute
The judge said Kingston’s mother obstructed justice in her testimony. Kingston and his mother were arrested in May 2024 after a SWAT raid on Kingston’s mansion in Fort Lauderdale. Turner was arrested during the raid, and Kingston was arrested at Fort Irwin Army base in California where he was performing, as per reports.
Luxury item scam details
Court records show Kingston used social media from April 2023 to March 2024 to arrange luxury purchases. He would invite sellers to his high-end Florida homes and promise social media promotion of their products. When it was time to pay, Kingston or his mother sent fake wire receipts for items like a bulletproof Escalade, watches, and a 19-foot LED TV.Victims often contacted Kingston and Turner repeatedly, but rarely got paid unless they filed lawsuits or involved law enforcement. Kingston was born in Florida and raised in Jamaica, and became famous at age 17 with “Beautiful Girls” in 2007. His other hits include “Take You There” (2007) and “Fire Burning” (2009), reported by The Associated Press.
FAQs
Q1. Why was Sean Kingston sent to prison?Sean Kingston was sentenced for a $1 million fraud scheme where he tricked sellers into giving him luxury items without paying.
Q2. How long is Sean Kingston’s prison sentence?
He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, while his mother received five years.
