Sean Kingston, the singer known for hits like "Beautiful Girls," has been sentenced to 3.5 years in federal prison following his conviction in a $1 million fraud case. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge David S. Leibowitz, comes after Kingston and his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, were found guilty in March on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud. Turner was previously sentenced to five years in prison in July for her role in the scheme.

The fraud scheme, which took place between April 2023 and March 2024, involved Kingston contacting vendors through social media to arrange the purchase of luxury merchandise. After negotiating deals, Kingston would invite sellers to his luxury homes in Broward County, Florida, using his celebrity status to gain their trust. He would offer to feature their products on social media or name-drop high-profile celebrities as potential clients.

However, when it came time to pay, Kingston or Turner would send the victims fake wire receipts as purported proof of payment. These receipts, obtained by Turner, were fraudulent, and no funds were ever transferred from legitimate accounts. The scheme resulted in vendors being defrauded of over $1 million in property, including a bulletproof Escalade, high-end watches, and a 232-inch LED television. Many victims were never paid, while others received payment only after filing lawsuits or involving law enforcement.

During the trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton described Kingston as someone "addicted to his celebrity lifestyle" who "clearly doesn't like to pay and relies on his celebrity status to defraud his victims". Anton characterized Kingston as "a thief and a conman, plain and simple," highlighting a years-long pattern of bullying victims for luxury merchandise and then refusing to pay.

Kingston's defense attorney, Zeljka Bozanic, argued that the singer had the mentality of a teenager, as he was when he rose to stardom. Bozanic claimed that Kingston had little knowledge of his finances and relied on business managers and his mother. She also stated that Kingston has already begun repaying his victims and intends to pay back every cent once he is released and able to work again.

Before receiving his sentence, Kingston apologized to Judge Leibowitz and stated that he had learned from his actions. Despite his attorney's request for self-surrender due to health issues, the judge ordered Kingston to be taken into custody immediately. Following his prison term, Kingston will also serve three years of probation. After his release, 10% of his monthly gross earnings will be applied to repayment.