Sean Kingston’s Come up and Crash Out: Here's Why He's Facing Serious Jail Time

The Breakdown: If you were around when Sean Kingston was topping the charts, you’re probably wondering what happened to the rapper. He was recently convicted of fraud and now faces serious prison time.

In the late 2000s Sean Kingston was on top of the world. At the height of his career, Sean was all over the radio. His breakout came in 2007 with the release of "Beautiful Girls.” The song dominated charts worldwide, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. His self-titled debut album followed, featuring hits like "Me Love" and "Take You There.” In 2009, Kingston released his sophomore album Tomorrow, which included the dancefloor anthem "Fire Burning."

Throughout his career, Kingston collaborated with various artists, including Justin Bieber, on the 2010 single “Eenie Meenie.” But the musician’s journey wasn’t without struggle. In May 2011, he was involved in a serious jet ski accident in Miami that left him critically injured.

He made a full recovery and returned to music, dropping his third album, Back 2 Life, in 2013. However, Sean’s musical career has been overshadowed by legal issues. For fans questioning what happened to the music superstar, here is a look at his fraud charges, guilty verdict, and upcoming sentencing.

Sean is facing serious legal heat. On March 28, a federal jury in Fort Lauderdale found Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, guilty of multiple counts of wire fraud. The duo was convicted of swindling over a million dollars from various businesses, including car dealerships, banks, and jewelers, by using fake documents to acquire luxury items like a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade and high-end jewelry.

The court heard testimonies from victims who were duped out of significant sums. A Florida jeweler recounted losing nearly $500,000 in jewelry after Kingston and his mother faked a wire transfer.

Sean’s defense tried to portray him as financially naive, suggesting he recklessly spent money without a clear understanding of his finances. Despite this, the jury deliberated for just three and a half hours before delivering the guilty verdict.

During the trial, prosecutors painted Sean’s mom as the mastermind behind the scheme, dubbing her the "fixer and nerve center." Given her prior conviction for bank fraud in 2006, she was deemed a flight risk and taken into custody immediately after the verdict.

Sean was placed under house arrest with strict conditions, including electronic monitoring and a hefty bond requirement. Both Sean and his mother now face up to 20 years in prison for each count, with sentencing scheduled for July 11.

Prior to his arrest, Sean lived in a rented mansion in Southwest Ranches, Florida. This affluent suburb of Fort Lauderdale is known for housing celebrities like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill. Sean is believed to be serving his house arrest in his South Florida home. However, he will have to trade in comfort for a jumpsuit if sentenced to prison.