Sean Kingston sentenced to 3.5 years for $1 million luxury item fraud
Before going to jail, Kingston apologized in court and said he had learned from his mistakes. His lawyer asked if he could go to jail later because of health problems, but the judge ordered he must go right away. Kingston wore a black suit and white shirt, took off his jacket, and was handcuffed and taken out of the courtroom, The Associated Press reported.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton said Kingston was addicted to his celebrity lifestyle even though he couldn't afford it. Anton also said Kingston bullied victims to get luxury items and then refused to pay. Anton called Kingston a 'thief and a conman, plain and simple'. Kingston's attorney Zeljka Bozanic said he thinks like a teenager, relying on his mother and managers for money.Bozanic said Kingston had almost no knowledge of his finances and spent money on superficial things. Bozanic said Kingston has already started paying back victims and plans to repay fully once free. Judge David Leibowitz said Kingston was not unintelligent or naive, but gave him credit for accepting responsibility and not lying in court, as mentioned in the report by The Associated Press.
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The judge said Kingston's mother obstructed justice in her testimony. Kingston and his mother were arrested in May 2024 after a SWAT raid on Kingston's mansion in Fort Lauderdale. Turner was arrested during the raid, and Kingston was arrested at Fort Irwin Army base in California where he was performing, as per reports.
Court records show Kingston used social media from April 2023 to March 2024 to arrange luxury purchases. He would invite sellers to his high-end Florida homes and promise social media promotion of their products. When it was time to pay, Kingston or his mother sent fake wire receipts for items like a bulletproof Escalade, watches, and a 19-foot LED TV.
Victims often contacted Kingston and Turner repeatedly, but rarely got paid unless they filed lawsuits or involved law enforcement. Kingston was born in Florida and raised in Jamaica, and became famous at age 17 with 'Beautiful Girls' in 2007. His other hits include 'Take You There' (2007) and 'Fire Burning' (2009), reported by The Associated Press.
Q1. Why was Sean Kingston sent to prison?
Sean Kingston was sentenced for a $1 million fraud scheme where he tricked sellers into giving him luxury items without paying.
Q2. How long is Sean Kingston's prison sentence?
He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, while his mother received five years.
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Indian Express
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Meet the actor with Down Syndrome who wants to run for Chile president
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News18
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In spite of Yemen's civil war, the number of migrants arriving there has tripled from 27,000 in 2021 to 90,000 last year, the UN International Organisation for Migration, or IOM, said last month. To reach Yemen, migrants are taken by smugglers on often dangerous, overcrowded boats across the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden. The IOM said at least 1,860 people have died or disappeared along the route, including 480 who drowned. 'Our youth are dying because of this dangerous migration," says Eden Shumiye's father Hadush. 'They fall victim to the cruelty of traffickers. When will this tragedy come to an end?" (AP) GRS GRS (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 18, 2025, 13:30 IST News agency-feeds Ethiopian migrants face kidnappings, death, leaving behind heartbroken families Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
13 hours ago
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Ethiopian migrants face kidnappings and death, leaving behind heartbroken families
ADDIS ABABA: When 19-year-old Nigus Yosef told his parents he was going to leave home in Ethiopia's Tigray region and try to get to Saudi Arabia, they begged him not to go. Two of their children had already made the crossing, via the Gulf of Aden and then war-torn Yemen. Yosef's brother is now in jail in Yemen for entering that country illegally. His sister made it to Saudi Arabia, also illegally, which means it will be difficult for her to leave. On August 3, 2025, Yosef and five friends from his town of Adi Qeyih boarded a boat bound for Yemen. That night, it capsized. Only 56 people of the nearly 200 people on board survived. Yosef was not one of them. 'His parents are in deep shock and grief,' his uncle, Redae Barhe, said in a telephone interview. 'They can't even voice their sorrow.' Nigus Yosef is one of 132 missing from the boat that capsized this month; one of countless people from African countries gone missing on a journey in search of a new life. Journeys fraught with danger The families they leave behind know that there are high odds of misfortune. Boats are often overcrowded, unable to withstand rough seas. Once on dry land, there are other dangers. Migrants are vulnerable, with few resources or protection, making them easy prey for human traffickers and kidnappers. Senait Tadesse says that her 27-year-old daughter made it to Yemen, only to be held captive by kidnappers who communicated with Tadesse through Facebook, demanding a US$ 6,000 ransom to release her only child. Tadesse said in an interview with The Associated Press in the capital, Addis Ababa, that she sold her car and all her jewelry to raise the cash and deposited the money in an Ethiopian bank account. But the kidnappers demanded more. She sold all her belongings; they still wanted more. Not knowing what else to do, she went to the police, armed with the local bank account number that the kidnappers had been using. Meanwhile, she was on Facebook, trying to get news of her daughter. Eventually, a post from a survivor confirmed that Tadesse's daughter had been killed. To date, no arrests have been made. Driven by desperation Although Ethiopia has been relatively stable since the war in the country's Tigray region ended in 2022, youth unemployment is high and there are still pockets of unrest. 'Many young people no longer see a future for themselves within a nation that does not prioritize their needs,' explained Yared Hailemariam, an Ethiopian human rights advocate based in Addis Ababa. 'The cause of this migration is lack of economic opportunities and growing conflicts. Young people are faced with a choice of either taking up arms to fight in endless conflicts, or providing for their families.'
