Sean Kingston has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison following his conviction in a $1 million fraud scheme. The "Beautiful Girls" singer, whose real name is Kisean Paul Anderson, was taken into immediate custody after Judge David S. Leibowitz refused his request for house arrest.
The 35-year-old musician apologised to the court and pleaded for leniency, citing his charitable contributions. His legal team had requested he be allowed to self-surrender at a later date, but the judge ordered immediate detention.
Mother also sentenced
Kingston and his mother Janice Turner were convicted in March on all five charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud. Turner was sentenced to five years in prison last month, with both facing restitution hearings scheduled for October.
The pair were arrested last May after being accused of defrauding businesses in an elaborate wire fraud operation that ran from April 2023 to March 2024.
Celebrity status exploitation
The fraud scheme involved Kingston using his social media presence to negotiate deals for luxury goods. Prosecutors detailed how he would invite sellers to his Florida home, promising to feature their products on his social media pages to secure better deals.
When payment was due, Kingston or his mother would send fake wire transfer receipts instead of actual payments. Victims either never received payment or had to pursue legal action to recover their money.
High-value fraud targets
The scheme targeted expensive items including a 19-foot television, a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade, and luxury watches. In one case, Ver Ver Entertainment alleged Kingston contacted them about purchasing and installing a huge TV, using what they described as "basically a script" to lure victims.
The company claimed Kingston would reference his connections to other celebrities, including Justin Bieber, to build trust with potential victims before defrauding them.
Attorney condemns celebrity fraud
Attorney Dennis Card, representing one of the victims, told the court: "It is amazing what you can get away with if you are a celebrity. He creates this larger than life, 'I am rich' persona."
Card added: "He presents himself as a family-oriented guy, 'I'm taking care of my mom,' but she knows full well what is going on."
Sources used: "PA Media", "AP", "Billboard" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
