Singer-rapper Sean Kingston was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after being convicted of taking part in a $1 million wire fraud scheme in South Florida.

Kingston, born Kisean Paul Anderson, 35, and his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, were each found guilty by a federal jury in March of defrauding several businesses. Prosecutors said the two used fake wire transfer receipts to obtain luxury goods they never paid for. The pair was convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud, according to Blavity and NBC News South Florida.

What did Sean Kingston say at sentencing?

On July 11, Judge David Leibowitz sentenced both Kingston and Turner to five years in prison, but Kingston’s hearing was rescheduled to Friday, per NBC News. During the sentencing, Kingston appeared remorseful and addressed the court directly.

“I apologize, I apologize, I’ve learned from my actions,” he said. “All I’m asking for is to accept my apology to the court.”

Kingston’s attorney requested that he be allowed to self-surrender at a later date due to health concerns. However, Judge Leibowitz denied the request and ordered Kingston into immediate custody. He was handcuffed and escorted out of the courtroom.

What are both sides saying about the outcome?

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton described Kingston as someone who exploited his fame to live beyond his means and mislead others.

“He clearly doesn’t like to pay and relies on his celebrity status to defraud his victims,” Anton said Friday, according to the Associated Press.

Defense attorney Zeljka Bozanic argued that Kingston lacked proper financial guidance after rising to fame as a teenager. She said he had relied heavily on business managers and his mother to handle his finances.

“No one showed him how to invest his money,” Bozanic said. “Money went in and money went out on superficial things.”

Prosecutors said Kingston and Turner had been carrying out the fraud scheme for years. They defrauded a jewelry store, a luxury bed company, a used exotic car dealership, and a microLED TV provider, according to Blavity. Kingston allegedly persuaded vendors to release the high-end items before making payments, using fake wire transfers as proof. The businesses later discovered the funds never cleared.

Sean Kingston

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