R. Kelly, a popular singer in the United States, was found guilty on all sex charges and given a sentence of thirty years in federal prison.
R. Kelly, a popular singer in the United States, was given a sentence of thirty years in prison for exploiting his celebrity to engage in a pattern of sexually abusive behaviour toward women and children.
The R&B musician, who is 55 years old, was found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking in September by a jury in the state of New York.
In addition to that, the man originally from Chicago, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was given a fine of $100,000 (£82,525).
He is currently being prosecuted for three separate crimes in three separate cases.
Over the course of twenty years, it was discovered that Kelly had used his celebrity status and sphere of influence to coerce women and children into sexual relationships with him. Kelly is best known for his hit songs “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Ignition.”
During the celebrity’s sentencing on Wednesday, the United States District Judge Ann Donnelly stated that the celebrity had used sex as a weapon, compelling his victims to engage in unspeakable acts and infecting them with diseases that could not be cured.
She believed that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to her from committing crimes of a similar nature in the future.
The jury that deliberated over Kelly’s case in Brooklyn heard how he trafficked women between different states in the United States with the assistance of managers, security guards, and other members of his entourage. The trial lasted for six weeks.
The court also heard how Kelly had illegally obtained paperwork to marry singer Aaliyah when she was 15 years old in 1994, seven years before the singer died in a plane crash. This information was presented to the court.
Aaliyah was listed as 18 years old on the certificate that was discovered at the time.
A few months later, the marriage was declared invalid.
Given the severity of Kelly’s crimes and “the need to protect the public from further crimes,” federal prosecutors had recommended that he be sentenced to more than 25 years in prison. This recommendation was made by federal prosecutors.
However, his legal representatives advocated for a sentence of ten years or less, which is the mandatory minimum for his conviction.
They portrayed Kelly as having a difficult childhood, including being abused sexually beginning at a young age and growing up poor in a home where there was a history of domestic violence.
