BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — Rapper and singer Sean Kingston was sentenced Friday to three and a half years in federal prison for his role in a $1 million luxury fraud scheme, marking the last time he would be a free man for years.
The sentence was handed down in a Broward County federal courtroom following Kingston’s March conviction.
Federal prosecutors had sought a five-year sentence to match the punishment given to his mother and co-defendant, Janice Turner, arguing that “they hatched this scheme together.”
The judge rejected that recommendation, saying it would be unfair since Kingston — whose legal name is Kisean Anderson — “did not take the stand and lie 10 feet from me like his mother did” and showed acceptance of responsibility.
Kingston said he has learned from his actions. He also described himself as ”backbone" of his family.
His sister, Kanema Morris, told Local 10 News after the sentencing:
“Sean has played a major role in a lot of people’s lives, and he is a blessing and he will continue to be that.”
“Three and a half years is much lower than the guidelines so we are happy about that part. I think the judge saw through the fact that this is not a typical fraud you see in other cases and also most of the people were paid back,” said Kingston’s Defense Attorney Zeljka Bozanic. “I think the fact that Sean has done so much stuff for other people and the fact that he is a good person and helped others I think that also helped with the sentence. I think it had to do with acceptance of responsibility and the fact that Sean didn’t take the stand to testify. He did accept responsibility.”
Kingston, 35, will also serve three years of probation following his release. He was remanded immediately and will be taken to the Bureau of Prisons.
A restitution hearing is scheduled within 90 days unless both parties reach an agreement beforehand. The judge ruled that while in prison, half of any salary Kingston earns will go toward restitution. After his release, 10% of his monthly gross earnings will be applied to repayment.
The hearing concluded with Kingston removing his jacket as U.S. Marshals cuffed him and escorted him to Miami’s Federal Detention Center.
Kingston and Turner, 62, were arrested in May 2024 after a SWAT raid on Kingston’s Southwest Ranches rental mansion.
Both were convicted in March of conspiracy and multiple counts of wire fraud.
Turner was sentenced last month to five years in federal prison, three years of probation, and ordered to pay restitution, with a hearing set for Oct. 16.
Prosecutors said Kingston lured sellers of high-end items to his Florida homes with promises of social media promotion, then submitted fake wire transfer receipts to obtain the merchandise without payment.
The scheme involved luxury items including a 232-inch television, a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade and expensive jewelry. Seventeen additional victims were identified, and many items were recovered during the raid.
Bozanic told the judge that Kingston “has no clue about his finances. Right now, he knows he hit rock bottom.” She said Kingston would ask his mother for money, who acted as his business manager and “was not very good at it. Money went in and money went out.”
She argued Kingston lacked the intellectual sophistication to process complex information, and that he rose to fame at 16 without guidance, coming from a challenging neighborhood and once being “borderline homeless.”
“He has a good heart, always tries to help people,” Bozanic said, adding that the charges “don’t define him” and that “he is very sorry.”
Judge David Leibowitz called Kingston’s journey “a true ‘rags to riches’ story” of a man who came from difficult circumstances and made something of himself through talent.
But he said it would be “unfair” to give him the same sentence as his mother, who “obstructed justice by lying on the stand” and did not accept responsibility.
“He is not a dumb man, far from it. He is a very smart man. That is what makes it so tragic,” Leibowitz said.
Kingston was previously on house arrest after posting a $200,000 cash bond and using a relative’s $500,000 property as collateral.
Friday’s hearing ended with Kingston removing his suit jacket and handing it to family members before U.S. Marshals handcuffed him. He exchanged “I love yous” with Morris who told Local 10 News afterward, “God has it all in control.”
U.S. Marshals will first transport him to the Broward County Main Jail before transferring him to FDC Miami as soon as possible.
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