R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being found guilty of decades-long sexual abuse of women, boys, and girls.
A federal jury in New York found the 55-year-old disgraced 90s singer guilty in September of last year.
Judge Ann Donnelly handed down her ruling on Kelly today, telling him that she would “never forget” some of his victims’ testimonies and how he had used his “minions” to “lure young admirers into your orbit.”.
Federal prosecutors demanded that he serve more than 25 years in prison to “protect the public,” but his defense claimed that a sentence of 10 years or less is just what he merits because he “is not currently a risk.”.
A law against sex trafficking known as the Mann Act was also found to have been broken by Kelly.
After a six-week trial in Brooklyn, New York, the Ignition hitmaker, who had fought against all charges, was found guilty on all nine of them.
In front of several of his victims today, who described his “deplorable and inexplicable” abuse in advance of his sentencing, Kelly was dubbed “the pied piper of RandB,” earning him the nickname.
Seven women who went by the name Jane Does testified in court about their experiences as victims, describing Kelly’s “God-like mindset” and how his “celebrity and power” seduced his victims. “.
A woman who went by the name Angela claimed that R&B was the pied piper of music and approach.
“Love and success… You displayed these brilliant diamonds as if they were made of gold.
“With each new victim, you became more vicious and haughty, losing any trace of humanity or self-awareness, which eventually led to the development of your God-like complex.
You were acting dishonorably and shouldn’t have encouraged or supported such behavior.
The emotional statements were read out, and Kelly just stared straight ahead.
Jane Doe number two interrupted her testimony at one point because R&B singer Paul Kelly appeared to be speaking with his attorney, saying she “did not want to interrupt (Kelly’s) conversation.”.
She called him out, calling him an abuser, a coward, and disgusting.
Sentencing another human being is probably the most difficult thing a judge has to do, Judge Donnelly said to Kelly during the sentencing process. “.
She remarked, “It’s fair to say, Mr. Kelly, that you were a person who had some great advantage; you had worldwide fame and celebrity, untold money.
You had a network of people you used to entice young fans into your orbit by using your fame and status.
“Young people are being targeted by your minions at the mall, and you’re giving them your phone number so they can meet R Kelly. “.
“You thought of yourself as a genius who can accomplish “whatever I want because of what I contribute to the world. “.
Assistant U. has made some shocking claims. S. According to Kelly’s lawyer Maria Cruz Melendez, victims would have to ask Kelly’s permission for almost everything, including using the restroom.
Then, according to reports, he threatened to release letters that he had made them write incriminating themselves if they fled.
The singer is alleged to have controlled his victims “physically, sexually, and psychologically” by insisting that they refer to him as “Daddy” while filming their sex acts.
Kelly’s attorney Nicole Blank Becker, however, claimed that there were “gaps” in the government’s case and that Kelly’s accusers were simply ex-fans who were angry that their relationships didn’t work out and were therefore disgruntled.
R. As of 2019, Kelly has been detained without a bond.
In Chicago, where a trial is set to begin in August, he is still accused of child pornography and hindering the legal process. 15.