Sean Kingston sentenced to three years in federal prison for million-dollar fraud scheme

Rapper Sean Kingston received three-year prison sentence for orchestrating million-dollar fraud with mother.

Rapper Sean Kingston has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison for his role in a million-dollar fraud scheme, according to a report from BBC News.

The Jamaican-American artist, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, was convicted earlier this year alongside his mother, Janice Turner. Prosecutors said the pair carried out a wire fraud operation in which they obtained luxury items—including high-end watches, a 232-inch LED television, a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade, and expensive furniture—worth more than $1 million.

Authorities explained that Kingston and his mother exploited the rapper’s celebrity status to secure goods. They would promise payment but instead sent fraudulent wire transfer receipts that falsely showed funds had been delivered. Some victims never received payment, while others were compensated only after legal action or law enforcement intervention.

Kingston addressed the court before sentencing, apologizing and saying he had learned from his mistakes, according to US media reports. His mother received a five-year prison sentence in July.

Kingston, best known for hits such as Beautiful Girls, Fire Burning, and Eenie Meenie with Justin Bieber, was arrested in 2024 while preparing for a performance in California. The arrest came after authorities raided his Florida home, where Turner was taken into custody.

During the trial, prosecutors presented text messages exchanged between Kingston and his mother discussing falsified payment confirmations. One message reportedly read: “I told you to make [a] fake receipt,” according to evidence highlighted by CBS News.

In defense, Kingston’s attorney Zeljka Bozanic described the singer as “a soft guy” who rose to fame quickly and lacked the maturity to manage his finances responsibly. The lawyer argued Kingston’s actions stemmed from poor judgment rather than calculated criminal intent.

Kingston will begin serving his sentence immediately.