R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison for federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
Former R&B singer R. Kelly was convicted to 30 years in jail on Wednesday, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
The singer was charged with federal racketeering and sex trafficking after using his power and fame to lure sexual abuse victims over the years.
Robert Sylvester Kelly, 55 was given 30 years after the prosecutors had asked the judge for more than 25, as it was “tantamount to a life sentence.”
Kelly’s own lawyers had asked for 10 years or fewer as the Ignition singer stood there emotionless.
Some of the people who had survived Kelly’s abuse stood in the court and prayed as the judge began to read her sentence.
“You left in your wake a trail of broken lives,” Judge Ann Donnelly said.
The judge went on to say she considered Kelly’s history of traumatic childhood abuse, saying: “It may explain, at least in part, what led to your behaviour,”
“It most surely is not an excuse.”
Everyone knew about R. Kelly. Everyone knew about Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Cosby, and Harvey Weinstein. Everyone knew about the Catholic priests. Everyone knew about Trump. I am so tired of people protecting rich perverts, keeping their dark secrets for decades. So damn tired.
— Andrea Junker (@Strandjunker) June 29, 2022
A former backup dancer, Jovante Cunningham, who also featured in the Netflix documentary series Surviving R. Kelly, which shone a light on the performer’s abuse, said she “started this journey 30 years ago,”
“There wasn’t a day in my life up until this moment that I actually believed that the judicial system would come through for Black and brown girls. I stand here very proud of my judicial system, very proud of my fellow survivors and very pleased with the outcome.”
Gloria Allred, who represented three victims who testified in the case told reporters on Wednesday: “No one can undo the harm that has been done to these victims,”
“But at least it’s time for Mr Kelly to be accountable.”
