Sean Kingston, the Jamaican-American artist who once had the globe singing along to his 2007 breakout hit Beautiful Girls, has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison. The ruling, delivered on August 15, 2025, came after Kingston and his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, were found guilty of masterminding a $1 million wire fraud scheme that prosecutors say spanned luxury cars, high-end jewelry, and even a massive home theater setup.
Kingston, born Kisean Paul Anderson, was once the face of pop-reggae fusion—his blend of catchy hooks, Caribbean flair, and youthful charm propelled him into stardom at just 17. Hits like Fire Burning and Eenie Meenie (his Justin Bieber collab) made him a household name. But nearly two decades later, he’s making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
According to court documents, Kingston and his mother operated what prosecutors described as a “fraudulent wire transfer hustle.” The duo used fake proof-of-payment receipts to convince sellers they had wired money for luxury goods, when in fact no payment had been made. Among the items obtained were a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade, designer watches, and an enormous LED screen installed in his South Florida mansion.
Turner, 63, is said to have been the brains behind the operation, allegedly drafting the falsified paperwork. She received a five-year sentence, heavier than her son’s, as the judge noted her deeper involvement.
“The defendants exploited their celebrity and manipulated trust to live far beyond their means,” prosecutors stated.
On sentencing day, Kingston appeared visibly shaken. Clad in a tailored but understated suit, he addressed Judge David Leibowitz with an apology. “I made mistakes. I let my fans down, my family down, and I let myself down,” he said. But his request for a delayed surrender—citing unspecified health issues—was denied. The judge ordered immediate custody.
The lighter sentence compared to his mother’s was attributed to Kingston’s decision not to take the stand, sparing the court the possibility of perjury.
Beyond the prison term, Kingston will also serve a probation period and is expected to pay restitution to several defrauded businesses. The logistics of repayment, given his reportedly unstable finances, remain unclear.