R. Kelly Has Been Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison

In a breaking story, singer R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years for various sex crimes. The Chicago, Illinois singer, songwriter, and producer faced nine federal charges, including human trafficking, racketeering, and more. TMZ is among those reporting Wednesday’s (June 29) sentence, which took place in Brooklyn, New York. Throughout the trial, the 55-year-old man born Robert Kelly did not take the stand. After learning of his fate in court, the singer declined to give a statement.

Judge Ann M. Donnelly announced the Public Announcement singer’s sentence after a month-long trial, closing one of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s highest-profile criminal prosecutions in some time. R. Kelly’s defense maintained the innocence of the former Jive Records superstar. They called upon various R. Kelly insiders who vehemently denied knowledge of any wrongdoing related to the allegations.

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According to The New York Times, one of R. Kelly’s victims, Lizzette Martinez, reacted to the 30-year sentence with “I personally don’t think it’s enough but I’m pleased with it.”

The multi-platinum singer topped the albums chart six times in his extensive career, including the Unfinished Business collaborative disc with JAY-Z. He also reached #1 on the singles charts alongside Celine Dion on 1998’s “I’m Your Angel,” following a 1994 appearance with “Bump N’ Grind.” In January 2019, after years of public speculation of acts against women, including leaked sex tapes, R. Kelly was arrested. At the time it was reported that he could face up to 70 years behind bars—making it a presumable life sentence. The arrest followed the high-profile broadcast of dream hampton’s Lifetime docuseries, Surviving R. Kelly. That same month, RCA/Sony Records, who absorbed Jive, dropped the artist that had been on the roster for nearly 30 years.

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R. Kelly is still expected in a second federal trial in Illinois and a state trial in Minnesota.