A federal appeals court in Manhattan has upheld the 30-year prison sentence of embattled R&B singer R. Kelly, affirming his convictions for racketeering and sex trafficking.
DAILY POST recalls that the disgraced musician was convicted in 2021 for operating a criminal enterprise that recruited and abused young women and underage girls. In 2022, he received an additional 20-year sentence for child sex charges, including the production of child sexual abuse material in Chicago.
On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, a three-judge panel ruled against Kelly’s appeal, stating that he used his celebrity status to exploit and abuse victims over a 25-year period. The court also dismissed his argument that prosecutors failed to prove he orchestrated a racketeering scheme.
“Enabled by a constellation of managers, assistants, and other staff, Kelly exploited his fame to lure young women and girls into his grasp,” the court ruling stated. “Evidence at trial proved that he isolated victims, controlled every aspect of their lives, and subjected them to physical, sexual, and verbal abuse.”
Following the verdict, Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, announced plans to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court in a final bid to overturn his conviction.
The 58-year-old singer, once celebrated for his musical career, now faces decades behind bars with little chance of release.