Sean Kingston’s latest stage wasn’t a music venue but a federal courtroom in South Florida, and the performance ended with him being led away in handcuffs. The 35 year old rapper was sentenced on Friday to three and a half years in prison for his role in a fraud scheme that prosecutors say swindled $1 million. As Page Six reports, Kingston stood before US Judge David Leibowitz, apologized, and promised he had learned from his mistakes.
His attorney asked for him to be allowed to self-surrender later because of health concerns, but the judge wasn’t buying it. Kingston was ordered into custody immediately. He wore a black suit and white shirt, taking off the jacket before marshals cuffed him and walked him out of the room.
The sentencing closes a long and messy chapter that began with a March conviction. Kingston and his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, were both found guilty of four counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Turner, 63, was sentenced last month to five years in prison, which is a fraction of the 20 years both could have faced.
Prosecutors laid out how the mother and son pulled off their scam. They claimed to have paid for luxury goods like cars and jewelry, when in fact no money ever changed hands. Turner admitted during the trial that she had mismanaged her son’s finances, though prosecutors painted it as more than sloppy accounting. They argued it was a deliberate plan to enrich themselves at the expense of others.
The arrest itself was dramatic. In May 2024, a SWAT team raided Kingston’s Fort Lauderdale home, taking Turner into custody on the spot. Kingston, whose real name is Kisean Paul Anderson, was arrested later in California but allowed to stay at home until sentencing. That brief window of freedom closed fast on Friday when the judge made clear there would be no delay in starting his prison time.
Throughout the ordeal, Kingston’s relationship with his mother has been front and center. After his conviction, he broke down in court, pleading with US Marshals to “protect” her. Even at his lowest point, his concern seemed fixed on making sure she was safe.
Kingston also tried to manage the story publicly. Around the time of his arrest, he posted on Instagram in an attempt to calm fans, writing, “People love negative energy! I am good and so is my mother! … my lawyers are handling everything as we speak.” That message now reads like an optimistic interlude before the reality of prison time hit.
The once chart-topping artist, known for upbeat hits in the late 2000s, now finds himself in a very different spotlight. What started as a career filled with catchy hooks and summer anthems has turned into a cautionary tale about fame, money, and family ties. His music once had fans singing about beautiful girls, but now it’s a federal sentence and an orange jumpsuit that will define his next few years. For Kingston, the song has changed, and the encore is three and a half years behind bars.
