Federal Court Upholds R. Kelly’s Sex Trafficking Convictions
A federal appeals court has upheld the convictions of R. Kelly for racketeering and sex trafficking, along with his 30-year prison sentence. The court ruled that the singer used his fame over a period of more than 25 years to sexually abuse girls and young women. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan made the decision after hearing arguments in March.
R. Kelly, a Grammy-winning R&B songwriter, was convicted in 2021 in Brooklyn federal court on multiple charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking. His mug shot was released by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
Attorney Jennifer Bonjean, representing R. Kelly, expressed her belief that the Supreme Court will agree to hear an appeal. She criticized the 2nd Circuit ruling as unprecedented, stating that it gives prosecutors excessive discretion in applying racketeering laws.
The appeals court rejected Kelly’s arguments regarding inadequate trial evidence, questionable constitutionality of some state laws, biased jurors, improper judge rulings, and the use of a racketeering charge typically associated with organized crime cases.
The court highlighted how Kelly, supported by his entourage, had exploited his fame to manipulate and abuse underage girls. Testimonies revealed that he controlled every aspect of the victims’ lives and subjected them to verbal, physical, and sexual abuse.
The court also justified the admission of testimonies regarding Kelly infecting individuals with herpes without disclosure, stating that it was relevant to the case. Additionally, the allowance of graphic videos as evidence was deemed appropriate to demonstrate Kelly’s control and dominance over his victims.
Despite a partial dissent from Judge Richard J. Sullivan regarding a victim’s restitution award, the majority of the 2nd Circuit upheld the convictions and sentence, emphasizing the gravity of Kelly’s crimes.
Based on the cost of the brand-name drug when a generic drug is available, Bonjean criticized the government’s actions as not restitution but as a means to unfairly enrich government witnesses for their testimony. Robert Sylvester Kelly, better known as R. Kelly, faced a tumultuous legal journey, starting with his acquittal of child sexual abuse image charges in Chicago in 2008. However, a second trial in 2022 resulted in his conviction on charges of producing images of child sexual abuse and enticing girls for sex. Kelly, a prominent figure in the music industry, gained fame with hits like “I Believe I Can Fly” and the controversial “Trapped in the Closet.” Despite his success, allegations of his abuse of young girls circulated in the 1990s, only culminating in widespread outrage during the #MeToo movement, particularly after the release of the documentary “Surviving R. Kelly.”
