FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (BN24) — Singer Sean Kingston was sentenced Friday to three and a half years in federal prison for orchestrating a $1 million fraud scheme in which he used his celebrity status to obtain luxury goods without paying for them.
Kingston, whose legal name is Kisean Paul Anderson, was convicted in March alongside his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud. Turner, who prosecutors said played an active role in the scheme, received a five-year prison sentence last month.
Prosecutors said Kingston engaged in a yearslong pattern of luring sellers of high-end merchandise to his South Florida homes with promises of social media promotion in exchange for discounted prices or deferred payments. Instead, Kingston and Turner sent fake wire transfer receipts and failed to deliver payment for items including a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade, luxury watches, and a massive 19-foot LED television.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton described Kingston as “addicted to his celebrity lifestyle” despite being unable to afford it, calling him “a thief and a conman, plain and simple.”
Before sentencing, Kingston addressed U.S. District Judge David Leibowitz, apologizing and saying he had learned from his mistakes. His request to self-surrender later due to health concerns was denied, and he was taken into custody immediately.
Defense attorney Zeljka Bozanic argued Kingston had the mentality of a teenager — the age when he first rose to fame — and lacked financial knowledge, relying heavily on his mother and business managers. The attorney said Kingston has already begun repaying victims and intends to make full restitution once released.
Judge Leibowitz acknowledged Kingston’s acceptance of responsibility but dismissed the defense’s portrayal of him as naive. He contrasted Kingston’s approach with Turner’s testimony at trial, which he described as obstructive.
Kingston and Turner were arrested in May 2024 after a SWAT team raided Kingston’s rented mansion near Fort Lauderdale. Turner was taken into custody at the property, while Kingston was arrested at Fort Irwin in California, where he had been performing.
Kingston, now 35, was born in Florida and raised in Jamaica. He rose to international fame at age 17 with his 2007 hit “Beautiful Girls” and later charted with “Take You There” and “Fire Burning.”
