R Kelly’s 30-year sentence upheld in sex trafficking case
A federal appeals court upheld R. Kelly’s 2021 convictions for racketeering and sex trafficking, affirming his 30-year prison sentence. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the disgraced R&B singer exploited his fame for decades to sexually abuse girls and young women, with the help of his entourage.
The court dismissed Kelly’s claims of biased jurors, improper evidence, and misuse of racketeering laws, stating that testimony and graphic videos were crucial to demonstrating his control over victims. Seven accusers, including underage survivors, testified about abuse, with some alleging Kelly knowingly transmitted herpes.
Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, criticized the ruling as “unprecedented” and plans to appeal to the Supreme Court. She also contested a restitution award for a victim’s herpes medication,
calling it excessive.
Once a Grammy-winning artist known for hits like “I Believe I Can Fly,” Kelly’s career crumbled amid allegations dating back to the 1990s. Public outrage surged after the 2019 documentary Surviving R. Kelly and the #MeToo movement.
Despite a 2008 acquittal, Kelly was convicted in 2022 on separate charges of child sexual abuse, cementing his fall from grace.
