Sean Kingston won’t be hitting the Summerfest stage this June after a federal judge denied his request to perform ahead of his upcoming sentencing in a high-profile wire fraud case. According to AllHipHop, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Leibowitz turned down the plea without offering any explanation, signaling a grim reality for the chart-topping artist: prison time may be just around the corner.
Kingston, best known for hits like “Beautiful Girls” and “Take You There,” had hoped to secure a financial lifeline by performing at the Milwaukee-based music festival on June 20. His legal team, led by attorney Zeljka Bozanic, argued that the show was a major opportunity—not a nightclub gig, but a legitimate festival concert that could generate significant funds to help repay over $1 million in stolen luxury goods tied to his case.
Bozanic made the case that Kingston is in dire financial straits, pointing out that his current home detention terms in the Southern District of Florida, with strict GPS monitoring and zero travel clearance, have made it impossible for him to earn income. The Summerfest booking, she claimed, was a rare and critical opportunity to start paying off his mounting legal obligations.
But Judge Leibowitz wasn’t moved. The court’s silence on its reasoning only adds to the speculation that the judicial system is ready to send Kingston away rather than extend leniency for a stage appearance.
With federal wire fraud charges looming and no clear path to make financial amends, it looks like Kingston’s days of performing may be on pause for the foreseeable future; this time not by choice, but by court order.