It is a heavy sentence for the fallen star, R. Kelly. Indeed, convicted in September 2021 in New York of having directed for years a “system” of sexual exploitation of young people, including teenagers, the American singer R. Kelly was sentenced Wednesday to thirty years in prison for sex crimes.
The sentence was pronounced by the federal court of Brooklyn, where the trial began 9 months ago.
The interpreter of the hit I Believe I Can Fly, now 55 years old, did not pronounce on the verdict. The U.S. prosecution considers that he was “an impudent, manipulative, controlling and coercive, showing no signs of remorse or respect for the law. Hence the reason for the heavy sentence, while federal prosecutors called for at least twenty-five years of criminal imprisonment because of the “danger” that R. Kelly would represent, for his victims and for public opinion.
R. Kelly was described as a “criminal, predator” during his trial. He is accused of having abused sexually, nine women and two men. The alleged victims mention rapes, forced drug taking, imprisonment and child pornography.
The former RnB icon is still to be determined in another federal trial scheduled in Chicago next August. He still faces the maximum sentence.
Robert Sylvester Kelly, was born on January 8, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. Before being recognized as a criminal, he marked the American musical landscape in the 90s and 2000s, with many hit songs including Bump N’ Grind, Ignition, I Believe I Can Fly. This last hit earned him three Grammy Awards.