R. Kelly’s attempt to appeal his federal racketeering and sex trafficking conviction, as well as the consequential 30-year prison sentence he received, has been rejected. This decision came after a trial in Brooklyn, New York, where he was found guilty by a jury in 2021. Testimonies from 11 individuals who accused him were essential in the verdict.
In 2022, it was disclosed that R. Kelly was seeking a retrial, a plea that he officially filed in 2023. Nonetheless, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently upheld his conviction in a ruling made this February. The court stated that all of Kelly’s arguments presented during the appeal were deemed to be without merit.
Throughout his career spanning over 25 years, R. Kelly abused his fame to manipulate young girls and women, isolating them from their support networks and subjecting them to verbal, physical, and sexual mistreatment. His attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, criticized the court’s decision, calling the prosecutors’ utilization of racketeering laws in his case “absurdly remote.” She intends to pursue an appeal with the Supreme Court.
R. Kelly’s legal troubles also extend to a 20-year sentence for possessing indecent images of minors and engaging in child sex crimes. The disgraced R&B singer’s downfall has sparked support services like the one sponsored by AFEM for victims of sexual harassment within the Electronic Music Industry. Meanwhile, Health Assured offers confidential counseling for those affected by such abuses, providing a vital support network for guidance and assistance
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