R&B singer R Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in prison by a US federal court in New York for masterminding an elaborate scheme to entice and sexually exploit young aspiring singers and underage children.
The 55-year-old was found guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering which involved women and underage children.
Kelly’s sentence follows his conviction on multiple counts of racketeering, relating to bribery and forced labour, by a jury in September last year.
The sentence comes nearly 30 years since the first allegation was made.
READ MORE: R Kelly guilty of sex trafficking after ‘exploiting stardom to recruit victims’
His conviction will be seen as a triumph for survivors of sexual violence.
Ahead of his sentencing, victims made statements and one who went by the alias Angela said that he “grew in wickedness” with “every addition of a new victim”.
She said that the victims will “reclaim their names” and are “no longer the preyed-upon individuals they once were”.
Lizette Martinez also said that he “destroyed so many people’s lives”.
R Kelly’s case was a prominent part in the Me Too movement and he is part of a long line of high profile abusers.
He follows Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby in being sent behind bars for their convictions.
The singer topped the charts with hits like Ignition and I Believe I Can Fly, which resulted in a large and dedicated fanbase.
In a statement released by his PA’s Mike Bedigan and Josh Payne, he was referred to as the “pied piper of RnB” and was found in violation of an anti-sex trafficking law called the Mann Act.
They said: “The singer, who denied all charges, was found guilty on all nine counts against him after a six-week trial in Brooklyn, New York. Sentencing Kelly, judge Ann Donnelly said he had used his ‘minions’ to ‘lure young fans into your orbit’.”
R Kelly was dressed in a grey prison uniform as the event took place and “did not appear to react as his sentence was passed”.
The statement continued: “At one point a woman known as Jane Doe number two halted her statement, saying she “did not want to interrupt (Kelly’s) conversation” as the singer appeared to confer with his lawyer. ‘You are an abuser, you are shameless, you are disgusting,’ she told him.”
R Kelly, real name Robert Sylvester Kelly, was at his prime during the 2000s and his single I Believe I Can Fly was used as an inspirational anthem.
Many events such as graduations and even Barack Obama’s 2008 inauguration used the song as a backing track.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
