Sean Kingston sentenced to 42 months for wire fraud scheme

A federal judge in Fort Lauderdale has sentenced Sean Kingston to 42 months in prison for a wire fraud scheme that targeted multiple vendors, resulting in more than $1 million in alleged losses. The 35-year-old rapper, whose real name is Kisean Paul Anderson, also received three years of supervised release and restitution proceedings are set for October. Kingston’s mother, Janice Turner, was sentenced separately to five years in federal prison last month.

Prosecutors argued that Kingston exploited his celebrity status to obtain luxury goods—ranging from a Cadillac Escalade and jewelry to a 232-inch LED television—by pressuring vendors to deliver items before payment could be secured. In the ensuing scheme, the defendants allegedly sent fake wire transfer receipts after negotiations had been completed, allowing them to keep the merchandise without paying. The items were delivered to Kingston’s Florida home and to other locations, with continued promises that payments would follow.

At the sentencing hearing, Kingston asked the judge for a lenient outcome, seeking house arrest due to his charitable work and lack of prior convictions. The defense contended that Kingston was...