Dancehall Producer Papi Don Released After Pleading Guilty To Mail Fraud In US
Dancehall producer Papi Don, who was sentenced to 21 months for his role in an advance-fee fraud scheme targeting 19 elderly individuals in the United States, has been released from federal prison.
The producer, 29, whose real name is Donte Johnson, had pleaded guilty to mail fraud, admitting to a scheme in which victims were deceived into believing they had won substantial prizes through the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. He convinced them to send “fees” to bank accounts he controlled, resulting in losses totaling US$450,610.84 for the 19 elderly victims. Johnson personally retained approximately $60,000 from the fraudulent activities before law enforcement seized $17,191 during his arrest.
Despite sentencing guidelines recommending a term of 33 to 41 months, Papi Don received the reduced sentence due to his acceptance of responsibility for the crime and his cooperation efforts, according to court records obtained by DancehallMag.
The sentence was handed down in May 2023, two years after his initial arrest in South Florida. He served his time at the Federal Correctional Institution in Miami, before he was released from their custody in September 2024.
He served 16 months.
Papi Don is now serving three years of supervised release under strict conditions, including financial oversight and he’s required to make restitution payments to the victims.
The ‘Papi Don Muziq’ label was among the most sought-after in Dancehall, producing hits such as TeeJay’s Up Top and Shaneil Muir’s Yamabella. However, according to court filings obtained by DancehallMag, his musical success did not always translate into financial stability.
“During a particularly rough period, Donte made the worst decision of his life to get involved in the instant conduct which will haunt him forever,” his attorney wrote in one filing. “Donte will be a convicted felon, which will have dire consequences in the U.S., including likely deportation, separation from his family, and exposure to the pervasive violence in Jamaica.”
The filing continued: “In an attempt to right the wrong he committed, Donte provided a truthful proffer to law enforcement, but unfortunately due to forces beyond his control and those of the government, his proffered information was not actionable and therefore did not rise to the level of substantial assistance.”
Letters from supporters described him as a devoted father and a positive influence within the music industry.
Meanwhile, the Feds told the court that the scheme caused severe financial and emotional harm to its victims. Some victims depleted their retirement savings, while others faced bankruptcy.