What you should know about R-30-year Kelly’s prison sentence

R. Kelly, an American singer, songwriter, and record producer, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for racketeering and sex trafficking. (What you should know about R-30-year Kelly’s prison sentence)

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022, a judge handed down the sentence in Brooklyn federal court in New York, nearly a year after Kelly was found guilty by a jury.

Judge Ann Donnelly, who sentenced him, stated that she would “never forget” certain aspects of the victims’ testimony.

Judge Ann Donnelly stated, “You taught them that love is enslavement and violence.”

“It is fair to say, Mr. Kelly, that you had some great advantage; you had worldwide fame and celebrity, as well as untold wealth.”

“You had a system of people that you used to entice young fans into your orbit using your celebrity and status.” Having your minions scout for young people at the mall and hand out your phone number in exchange for the chance to meet R Kelly.”

“You thought of yourself as a genius who could do ‘whatever I want because of what I give to the world.'”

As the court heard victim impact statements from seven unnamed women, the singer and songwriter kept his hands folded and his eyes downcast.

“You made me do things that broke my spirit,” one of the victims told Kelly. Because of how low you made me feel, I literally wished to die. “Do you recall that?”

“With each new victim, you grew in wickedness and cockiness, diminishing any form of humanity or self-awareness, which soon became the breeding ground for your God-like complex,” said another victim.

“You are an abuser, you are shameless, you are disgusting,” another woman said.

Kelly, who was dressed in a grey prison uniform, did not respond as the sentence was read aloud.

His lawyers argued that because he had a traumatic childhood, he should be sentenced to no more than ten years in prison.

According to them, this included “severe, prolonged childhood sexual abuse, poverty, and violence.”

As an adult with “literacy deficiencies,” the star was “repeatedly defrauded and financially abused, frequently by the people he paid to protect him,” according to his lawyers.

Prosecutors charged Kelly, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, with systematically “preying upon children and young women for his own sexual gratification.”

His attorneys attempted to portray his accusers as girlfriends and groupies who were not coerced into doing anything.

Kelly was adored by fans and sold millions of albums, even after allegations of sexual abuse of young girls surfaced in the 1990s.

With hits like “I Believe I Can Fly,” the three-time Grammy winner sold over 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the most commercially successful R&B musicians of all time.

Following the release of the docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly,” there was widespread outrage over his sexual misconduct. (What you should know about R-30-year Kelly’s prison sentence – Breaking news in Uganda)