Rapper Sean Kingston to be Sentenced in $1M South Florida Luxury Wire Fraud Case

Rapper Sean Kingston is set to be sentenced in a South Florida federal court on Friday after being found guilty of orchestrating a $1 million fraud scheme alongside his mother, Janice Turner. Kingston, whose real name is Kisean Paul Anderson, and Turner were convicted earlier this year of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud. Prosecutors said the 35-year-old singer, best known for his 2007 chart-topper Beautiful Girls, used his celebrity status to persuade luxury retailers to deliver high-value goods before payment was made.

According to court records, the scheme ran from April 2023 to March 2024 and targeted jewellery companies, a luxury bed manufacturer, exotic car dealerships and even a microLED TV business. Kingston would invite sellers to his lavish Florida residences, promising social media promotion in return for their products. When payment was due, either Kingston or Turner allegedly sent fake wire transfer receipts. The goods ranging from a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade to designer watches and a 19-foot LED television were never paid for, and victims often received nothing despite repeated attempts to collect.

Turner, 63, described by the judge as the 'fixer and nerve centre' of the operation due to her history of similar offences, was sentenced last month to five years in prison and three years of probation. Kingston, who was arrested in California after a SWAT raid on his Florida mansion in May 2024, has remained under house arrest with electronic monitoring. His sentencing will determine how long he spends in federal prison for a scheme that prosecutors say exploited fame to commit calculated financial crimes.