Rapper Sentenced In South Florida Court
Sean Kingston, known for his 2007 breakout hit “Beautiful Girls,” has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison after being convicted in a $1 million fraud scheme.
The 35-year-old rapper, whose real name is Kisean Paul Anderson, was found guilty in March along with his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud.
Turner, who prosecutors say played a key role in the scheme, received a five-year prison sentence last month.
Kingston Apologizes Before Sentencing
Before U.S. Judge David Leibowitz handed down the sentence on Friday, Kingston addressed the court, apologizing and saying he had learned from his actions.
His attorney requested a delayed surrender due to health issues, but the judge denied the request and ordered him into immediate custody.
Wearing a black suit and white shirt, Kingston removed his jacket before being handcuffed and led out of the South Florida courtroom.
Prosecutors Describe Pattern Of Deception
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton painted Kingston as someone “addicted to his celebrity lifestyle” long after he could no longer afford it.
Anton described a yearslong pattern of the rapper using his fame to pressure victims into handing over high-end goods without payment.
“He is a thief and a conman, plain and simple,” Anton told the court.
Defense Points To Youthful Mindset
Defense attorney Zeljka Bozanic argued that Kingston still had the mentality of a teenager, which was the age he was when fame found him, and lacked real understanding of his finances.
Bozanic claimed Kingston relied heavily on managers and his mother, and had already begun repaying victims.
“No one showed him how to invest his money,” Bozanic said. “Money went in and money went out on superficial things.”
The Fraud Scheme
According to court records, from April 2023 to March 2024 Kingston used social media to arrange luxury purchases, inviting sellers to his upscale Florida homes and promising to promote them on his platforms.
When payment was due, prosecutors say Kingston or Turner would send fake wire transfer receipts for items such as a bulletproof Escalade, luxury watches, and a massive 19-foot LED TV.
Victims often only received payment after filing lawsuits or involving law enforcement.
Arrest And Past Fame
Kingston and his mother were arrested in May 2024 following a SWAT team raid on his rented Fort Lauderdale mansion.
Turner was taken into custody during the raid, while Kingston was arrested in California at Fort Irwin, an Army training base, where he was performing.
The Florida-born, Jamaica-raised artist shot to fame at 17 with “Beautiful Girls” and went on to release hits like “Take You There” and “Fire Burning.”
Welp. Do the crime…you gotta do the time.
Frens, are you surprised by Sean Kingston’s sentence or did you expect his time to be more or less?
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