A federal appeals court in Manhattan has upheld R. Kelly’s convictions for racketeering and sex trafficking, as well as his 30-year prison sentence.
The ruling, delivered by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday, comes after hearing arguments in March 2024. The three-judge panel concluded that the 58-year-old singer used his fame to exploit and sexually abuse girls and young women.
“Enabled by a constellation of managers, assistants, and other staff for over twenty-five years, Kelly exploited his fame to lure girls and young women into his grasp,” the judges stated in their decision.
“Evidence at trial showed that he would isolate them from friends and family, control nearly every aspect of their lives, and abuse them verbally, physically, and sexually.”
Kelly, who was sentenced in 2022, had appealed the racketeering charge, arguing that prosecutors failed to prove he orchestrated a criminal enterprise to recruit and abuse women and underage girls. However, the appeals court dismissed his claim.
Jennifer Bonjean, Kelly’s legal representative, criticized the court’s decision, stating that she intends to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“This was not restitution. This was an effort by the government to unfairly enrich government witnesses for their testimony,” she said.
She also described the ruling as “unprecedented”, referencing a partial dissent by Judge Richard J. Sullivan.
Kelly has faced multiple legal battles in recent years. In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal against a 20-year prison sentence for producing child sexual abuse images in Chicago.
