Los Angeles, 16 August (H.S.):

Rapper Sean Kingston, famously known for hits like Beautiful Girls and Fire Burning, has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison after being convicted in a high-profile fraud scheme involving luxury goods valued at over $1 million. Kingston, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, was found guilty alongside his mother, Janice Turner, who was sentenced last month to five years behind bars.

The scheme revolved around exploiting Kingston's celebrity status to deceive victims into providing expensive items including luxury watches, a massive 232-inch LED TV, a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade, and high-end furniture. Prosecutors revealed that Kingston and his mother used fake wire transfer receipts to feign payment after receiving these goods. Victims, often approached via social media, were lured by promises that their products would be featured on Kingston's platforms or recommended to other prominent celebrities.

At trial, damning text messages between Kingston and his mother surfaced, revealing instructions to fabricate false payment confirmations. While some victims were eventually compensated following legal action, most were never paid.

Kingston expressed remorse in court, stating he had learned from his mistakes. His attorney portrayed the rapper as a “soft guy” who rose quickly from poverty to fame but lacked the maturity to manage his finances responsibly.

The singer was arrested in 2024 during preparations to perform at a military site in California, following a police raid on his home near Fort Lauderdale where his mother was also detained. Kingston will begin serving his prison sentence immediately.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar