World News. American singer – songwriter R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in jail for using his celebrity status to sexually abuse women and children.
Last year in September, R. Kelly was convicted by a jury in New York of racketeering and sex trafficking crimes. We wrote about it here: Singer R.Kelly granted appeal extension after testing positive for COVID 19
He was convicted on nine criminal charges, one count of racketeering and 8 counts of violating the Mann act which hinders transporting people across state lines for prostitution.
Ann Donnelly, U.S District judge, in the Brooklyn federal court stated that the evidence presented before the court indicated indifference to human suffering and sheer brutality towards women and children
“This case is not about sex, its about violence and cruelty control, you left in your wake a trail of broken lives” Donnelly stated.
A woman identifying as Jane Doe No. 2, stated “I didn’t know how to say no to R. Kelly when he asked me to perform oral sex on him”
R. Kelly’s defence lawyer said that his client deserved no more than 10 years after arguing that his history as an abused child might have led to his adult “hyper-sexuality” and further stated that he no longer posed as a threat.
The accused 55-year-old has been in jail since July 2019 and is likely to be transported to a prison in Chicago where he faces trial on a federal court on child pornography and obstruction charges.
He is also facing various state charges in Minnesota and Illinois.