He was sentenced in 2021. Prosecutors initially demanded a 25-year prison sentence for the singer. Kelly’s defense argued that he should be sentenced to no more than 10 years in prison, arguing that anything more amounted to the death penalty for the 55-year-old. U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly handed down the sentence after seven of the dishonored singer’s victims made statements reminiscent of their abuse by his hands. “You made me do things that broke my spirit. “I literally wished I could die because you made me feel low,” one of the victims told him. Kelly was convicted of nine counts, including extortion and violation of the Mann Act, which prohibits the transnational transfer of women and girls for “any sexual activity for which any person may be charged with a criminal offense.” The judge said during the sentence that “the public should be protected from behaviors like this.” “These crimes have been carefully calculated and planned and carried out regularly for almost 25 years,” he said. “You taught them that love is slavery and violence.” He went on to say that he would have issued the sentence regardless of the sentence guidelines. The victims described many cases of abuse suffered by Kelly. One of the victims said he used his fame to “groom” underage girls and boys. “Every time you add a new victim, you grow up to be mean,” said the victim, named Angela. “You used your reputation and power to beautify and educate underage boys and girls for your own sexual satisfaction.” “Today we are claiming our names again,” he said. “We are no longer the victims we once were. I wish God to reach your soul “. Kelly’s defense team tried to argue that he should receive a lighter sentence because of his upbringing. They claimed that Kelly was sexually abused as a child and grew up in a “chaotic house”. “Mr. Kelly denies being this monster,” said Kelly’s lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean. Breon Peace, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, spoke to reporters after the ruling. “R Kelly is a predator,” he said. “He continued to commit his crimes for almost 30 years and avoided punishment – until today. These are the voices of mostly black and brown women and children who were heard and believed. Justice has finally been served. This is a victory for them, for justice and for the victims of sexual assault. “Victims must be heard, the perpetrators must be held accountable and women and children must be protected.” He said he hoped the sentence would show that “no matter how rich [and] famous “an abuser will be brought to justice. Kelly first faced allegations that he had sex with minors in the 1990s. He married singer Aaliyah in 1994, when he was just 15 years old, allegedly to ensure he could not be forced to testify against him in court. In 2002, he was charged with allegedly possessing images of child sexual abuse, but was eventually acquitted in 2008. A new wave of accusations against Kelly began after the #MeToo movement began to prevail and successfully sent powerful abusers to prison.
