Jamaican-American rapper Sean Kingston, best known for his 2007 hit Beautiful Girls, has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison for his role in a million-dollar wire fraud scheme.

Kingston, whose legal name is Kisean Anderson, was convicted earlier this year alongside his mother, Janice Turner, after prosecutors revealed that the pair used the rapper’s celebrity status to swindle victims out of luxury goods.

The Fraud Scheme

According to federal prosecutors, Kingston and his mother tricked victims into handing over expensive items, including luxury watches, furniture, a 232-inch LED TV, and a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade worth more than $1 million.

Victims were lured in through Kingston’s celebrity connections. He often promised to promote their products on social media or connect them with “high-profile celebrities.” However, when it came time to pay, the rapper and his mother allegedly sent fake wire transfer receipts to make it appear as though payments had been made.

In one damning text message presented at trial, Kingston reportedly told his mother:
👉 “I told you to make [a] fake receipt.”

Most victims never received payment, though a few were compensated after lawsuits or law enforcement intervention.

Sentencing and Apology

Before his sentencing, Kingston addressed the court and apologised for his actions, saying he had learned from the ordeal. His attorney, Zeljka Bozanic, described the rapper as “a soft guy who grew up poor when he rose to fame overnight” and claimed Kingston lacked the maturity and skills to manage his finances.

Kingston’s mother, Janice Turner, was sentenced in July to five years in prison for her role in the scheme.

Arrest and Trial

The 34-year-old artist was arrested in 2024 in California, just before a scheduled performance at a U.S. Army training base in the Mojave Desert. His arrest came after authorities raided his home near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where his mother was also taken into custody.

He will begin serving his three-and-a-half-year sentence immediately.

Kingston’s Career

Sean Kingston rose to international fame in the late 2000s with hits such as Fire Burning, Take You There, and Eenie Meenie (featuring Justin Bieber). Despite his success, his career has been overshadowed by financial troubles and now, criminal charges.