Sean Kingston’s legal team has officially submitted a pardon request on his behalf, backed by letters from celebrity friends including Soulja Boy, Safaree, and Jack Doherty.
According to TMZ, Kingston is seeking a presidential pardon from Donald Trump—similar to the ones previously granted to Lil Wayne, NBA YoungBoy, and Kodak Black. His attorney confirmed that the paperwork has already been filed.
Kingston received a three-year prison sentence, while his mother, Janice Turner, was sentenced to five years after being convicted of defrauding several businesses out of millions.
TMZ reviewed parts of the letters included in the filing. Soulja Boy described the situation as “heartbreaking and wrong,” expressing empathy for Kingston and his mother due to his own past legal struggles. Safaree, who shares Kingston’s Jamaican roots, wrote that “this is the type of injustice [Trump has] been trying to combat.” Meanwhile, Doherty shared that he’s developed a close friendship with both Sean and Janice, adding, “getting caught up in a complex business misunderstanding isn’t the America he believes in.”
Back in August, Kingston filed an appeal following his conviction for wire fraud, securities fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors alleged that between April 2023 and April 2024, Kingston obtained over $1 million in luxury goods using fake wire transfer receipts.
His mother, who was also implicated in the scheme, was sentenced in July after being found guilty by a federal jury of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Both faced up to 20 years on each count.
