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Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Rapper Sean Kingston sentenced to 3 years for fraud scheme
Prosecutors said Kingston and his mother would get victims to give them products and, when payment was due, would send them fake wire receipts. Photo: file Rapper Sean Kingston has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison in a million-dollar fraud scheme, the BBC reported. The "Beautiful Girls" singer was convicted earlier this year, along with his mother, in a wire fraud scheme where they stole luxury items including watches, a 232-inch LED TV, a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade and furniture, exceeding $1m (£738,000). Prosecutors said Kingston — whose legal name is Kisean Anderson — and his mother used the rapper's celebrity status to get victims to give them products and when payment was due would send them fake wire receipts. The singer apologised to the court before being sentenced and said he'd learned from his actions, according to US media. His mother, Janice Turner, was sentenced in July to five years in prison. The Jamaican-American rapper, who is also known for hits like Fire Burning, Take You There and Eenie Meenie, which featured singer Justin Bieber, was arrested in 2024 in California, where he was set to perform at an Army training base in the Mojave Desert. His arrest happened after authorities raided his home near Fort Lauderdale, where his mother was taken into custody. Federal prosecutors said Kingston reached out to victims on social media, saying he wanted to purchase luxury goods and then invited them to his various homes in South Florida. Kingston promised these victims to post their products on his social media and sometimes offered to refer their products to other "high profile celebrities", federal prosecutors said. But when payment was due for the products, he or his mother sent them fake wire receipts that falsely showed they'd sent over the money, prosecutors said at trial. Authorities said most victims were never paid, though several did receive payment after law enforcement got involved or lawsuits were filed. A key piece of evidence shown at trial were text messages between Kingston and his mother discussing the fake payment receipts, according to CBS, the BBC's news partner. "I told you to make [a] fake receipt," he wrote in one. Kingston's attorney Zeljka Bozanic said the singer was "a soft guy who grew up poor when he rose to fame overnight". He said Kingston still had the mentality of a teenager and didn't know how to run his bank accounts or business. He will begin serving his time immediately.
The Hill
2 days ago
- The Hill
Rapper Sean Kingston sentenced to prison for $1 million fraud scheme
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Rapper Sean Kingston was sentenced to three and a half years in prison Friday after being convicted of a $1 million fraud scheme in which he leveraged his fame to dupe sellers into giving him luxury items that he then never paid for. Kingston, whose legal name is Kisean Paul Anderson, and his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, were each convicted in March by a federal jury of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. Turner was sentenced to five years in prison last month. Before U.S. Judge David Leibowitz handed down Kingston's sentence, the singer apologized to the judge in the South Florida courtroom and said he had learned from his actions. His attorney asked if he could self-surrender at a later date due to health issues, but the judge ordered him taken into custody immediately. Kingston, who was wearing a black suit and white shirt, removed his suit jacket and was handcuffed and led from the courtroom. Kingston, 35, and his mother were arrested in May 2024 after a SWAT team raided Kingston's rented mansion in suburban Fort Lauderdale. Turner was taken into custody during the raid, while Kingston was arrested at Fort Irwin, an Army training base in California's Mojave Desert, where he was performing. According to court records, Kingston used social media from April 2023 to March 2024 to arrange purchases of high-end merchandise. After negotiating deals, Kingston would invite the sellers to one of his high-end Florida homes and promise to feature them and their products on social media. Investigators said that when it came time to pay, Kingston or his mother would text the victims fake wire receipts for the luxury merchandise, which included a bulletproof Escalade, watches and a 19-foot (5.9-meter) LED TV, investigators said. When the funds never cleared, victims often contacted Kingston and Turner repeatedly but were either never paid or received money only after filing lawsuits or contacting law enforcement. Kingston, who was born in Florida and raised in Jamaica, shot to fame at age 17 with the 2007 hit 'Beautiful Girls,' which laid his lyrics over Ben E. King's 1961 song 'Stand By Me.' His other hits include 2007's 'Take You There' and 2009's 'Fire Burning.'
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Sean Kingston is sentenced to 3½ years in prison after mom got 5 years for fraud scheme
'Beautiful Girls' hitmaker Sean Kingston will spend three and a half years behind bars for his involvement in a months-long scheme that defrauded luxury goods businesses of more than $1 million. U.S. District Judge David Leibowitz handed down the 35-year-old performer's sentence Friday, months after a Florida jury convicted the singer (born Kisean Paul Anderson) and his mother, Janice Turner, in March on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud each. 'We respect the Court's decision and the judicial process,' Kingston attorney Zeljka Bozanic told The Times in a statement. Bozanic said Kingston's defense team is 'content' the court opted for a shorter prison sentence — the government had requested five years in prison — and said 'most of the restitution in this case was paid back, even before these charges were brought.' 'Sean is taking this as a learning experience and will continue moving forward in a positive direction,' Bozanic added. 'We are actively reviewing all available options, including potential appeals, to ensure his rights are fully protected.' During his court appearance in a South Florida courtroom Friday, Kingston apologized to the judge and said he had learned from his actions. Under house arrest since his conviction, Kingston was taken into custody immediately despite a defense attorney's request that Kingston self-surrender at a later date due to health issues. Prior to the sentencing, Bozanic filed a sentencing memorandum requesting that the court consider a shorter sentence. 'Mr. Anderson accepted responsibility in this case and has made all the positive steps toward learning and growing from this situation,' Bozanic said in the memorandum, which also describes the singer's previous charitable acts. The document notes that Kingston has 'never served prison time before' and that a 'high sentence is not necessary to deter future conduct.' Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of Florida accused Kingston and his mother of swindling more than $480,000 worth of jewelry from one person and, from others, a Cadillac Escalade worth nearly $160,000 and furniture costing upward of $86,500. Prosecutors said Kingston and his mother also stole more than $200,000 from Bank of America and more than $100,000 from First Republic Bank — allegations they initially denied. SWAT officers descended on the 'Take You There' singer's Florida home last May. His mother was arrested during the raid and Kingston was arrested soon after near the Fort Irwin Army base in San Bernardino County. Turner was sentenced to five years in prison last month. Kingston rose to popularity in the early 2000s for 'Beautiful Girls,' which samples Ben E. King's 'Stand By Me.' He is also known for the songs 'Eenie Meenie,' 'Fire Burning' and 'Me Love.' Times editorial library director Cary Schneider and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Sean Kingston sentenced to 3.5 years for $1 million luxury item fraud
Rapper Sean Kingston was sentenced to three and a half years in prison on Friday for a $1 million fraud scheme. Kingston's real name is Kisean Paul Anderson, and his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, was also convicted. Turner was sentenced to five years last month. Both were convicted in March by a federal jury for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire 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 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. ALSO READ: Atlanta rapper T-Hood killed in Gwinnett county shooting after domestic dispute 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.
Japan Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Rapper Sean Kingston sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for $1 million fraud scheme
FILE - Sean Kingston, right, and his mother Janice Turner arrive at the 40th anniversary American Music Awards, Nov. 18, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) By DAVID FISCHER Rapper Sean Kingston was sentenced on Friday to three and a half years in prison after being convicted of a $1 million fraud scheme in South Florida. Kingston, whose legal name is Kisean Paul Anderson, and his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, were each convicted by a federal jury in March of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. Turner was sentenced last month to five years in prison. Before U.S. Judge David Leibowitz handed down Kingston's sentence, the singer apologized to the judge and said he had learned from his actions. His attorney asked if he could self-surrender at a later date due to health issues, but the judge ordered him taken into custody immediately. Kingston, who was wearing a black suit and white shirt, removed his suit jacket and was handcuffed and led from the courtroom. Kingston, 35, and his mother were arrested in May 2024 after a SWAT team raided Kingston's rented mansion in suburban Fort Lauderdale. Turner was taken into custody during the raid, while Kingston was arrested at Fort Irwin, an Army training base in California's Mojave Desert, where he was performing. According to court records, Kingston used social media from April 2023 to March 2024 to arrange purchases of high-end merchandise. After negotiating deals, Kingston would invite the sellers to one of his high-end Florida homes and promise to feature them and their products on social media. Investigators said that when it came time to pay, Kingston or his mother would text the victims fake wire receipts for the luxury merchandise, which included a bulletproof Escalade, watches and a 19-foot (5.9-meter) LED TV, investigators said. When the funds never cleared, victims often contacted Kingston and Turner repeatedly, but were either never paid or received money only after filing lawsuits or contacting law enforcement. Kingston, who was born in Florida and raised in Jamaica, shot to fame at age 17 with the 2007 hit 'Beautiful Girls,' which laid his lyrics over Ben E. King's 1961 song 'Stand By Me.' His other hits include 2007's 'Take You There' and 2009's 'Fire Burning.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
