Jamaican-American singer Sean Kingston has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison, following his conviction in March for orchestrating a $1 million wire fraud scheme involving luxury goods. His sentencing took place in a South Florida courtroom on Friday.
Kingston, whose real name is Kisean Paul Anderson, was found guilty alongside his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, on four counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Turner had already received a five-year sentence last month.
Prosecutors revealed that the mother-son duo leveraged Kingston’s celebrity status to acquire high-end items—including a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade, luxury watches, and a 19-foot LED television—by presenting falsified wire transfer receipts and luring sellers with promises of social media exposure that never materialised.
In court, U.S. District Judge David Leibowitz dismissed a request from Kingston’s lawyer to allow him to self-surrender later due to health concerns, ordering that he be taken into custody immediately.
During sentencing, prosecutors described Kingston as a “thief and a conman,” accusing him of exploiting fame and repeatedly defrauding victims. Defence attorney Zeljka Bozanic countered that the 35-year-old singer lacked proper financial guidance, had started repaying some victims, and intended to make full restitution once free.
Kingston’s legal issues began in May 2024 when a SWAT team raided his Fort Lauderdale mansion—leading to both his and his mother’s arrest. He was later extradited while performing at a military base in California.
