Sean Kingston is a Jamaican-American former singer and rapper whose music career boomed during the 2000s. He was signed to Beluga Heights Records in 2007, which was a joint venture with Koch and Epic Records. He released his debut single in the same year, which instantly became a hit and peaked on the Billboard Hot 100.
Throughout his career, he has released three studio albums, three mixtapes, and more than 25 singles. He has also collaborated with a number of famous artists, including Justin Bieber, Natasha Bedingfield, Flo Rida, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, and more. His songs like Fire Burning, Eenie Meenie, Beat It, and Rum and Raybans were considered party anthems during the 2000s.
He was a celebrated artist with numerous awards and accolades to show for his talent. He won the Best Reggae Act MOBO Award in 2007 and the Teen Choice Award for Choice R&B Track for Beautiful Girls. He was also nominated for an MTV Video Music Award Japan and a few other Teen Choice Awards.
However, everything came crashing down in 2024. Sean Kingston’s mansion was raided by a SWAT team, and both the singer and his mother were arrested for alleged fraud and theft.
Why is Sean Kingston's mother sentenced to 5 years in prison?
On July 23, 2025, Sean Kingston's mother, Janice Turner, was sentenced to 5 years in prison along with 3 years of probation. The reason behind the sentence is that they were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They were also found guilty of four counts of wire fraud. Kingston’s sentencing is set to happen on August 28, 2025.
However, before she was sentenced, Janice Turner pleaded with the judge, saying:
"I'm sorry. My intention was to keep my son afloat in this difficult industry. They used him and abused him. I am begging for mercy for me and my son."
The charges began in 2024, after a plan to trick luxury businesses and vendors was revealed. Both Sean Kingston and his mother claimed that they had made the payments to the seller via wire transfer. However, none of the payments came through. After the investigation, it was revealed that Kingston and Turner had kept more than $1 million in goods and assets without paying for them.
Sean Kingston was once a celebrated artist. However, his life took a dark turn after the fraud charges. His mother, who is an accomplice in his crime, has been sentenced to 5 years in prison. Kingston is awaiting his sentence, which will be revealed on August 28, 2025.