R. Kelly’s aspirations to overturn his conviction for racketeering and sex trafficking, alongside his 30-year prison sentence, have faced a significant setback as a federal appeals court upheld his sentencing, dismissing his allegations of judicial errors and constitutional violations.
The ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, announced on Wednesday, reaffirms the 2021 conviction of the Grammy-winning R&B singer, who was found guilty of exploiting his fame to sexually abuse young women and underage girls over the course of more than 25 years.
Kelly, 57, through his attorney Jennifer Bonjean, contended that the evidence against him was insufficient, that certain state laws were unconstitutional, and that bias affected the jury’s decision.
However, the three-judge panel unanimously rejected these arguments, stating that Kelly’s criminal enterprise—facilitated by his staff—systematically lured and abused victims, as reported by VOA.
“Enabled by a constellation of managers, assistants, and other staff for over twenty-five years, Kelly exploited his fame to entice girls and young women into his control,” the court stated.
The 2nd Circuit Court found no error in allowing testimony from multiple accusers who were minors at the time of the abuse. It also upheld the trial judge’s choice to let jurors view explicit videos, which illustrated Kelly’s manipulation of his victims.
The court concluded that it was “neither arbitrary nor irrational” to permit testimony from those who claimed Kelly knowingly transmitted herpes to them. It also dismissed assertions that prosecutors misapplied federal racketeering laws, which are typically reserved for organised crime.
Attorney Jennifer Bonjean expressed her discontent with the ruling, labelling it “unprecedented” and announcing plans to petition the U.S. Supreme Court.
“This decision grants prosecutors boundless discretion to apply racketeering law to circumstances that are absurdly detached from its original intent,” Bonjean argued.
She further noted a partial dissent from Judge Richard J. Sullivan, who concurred with the majority’s ruling but disagreed with a restitution award requiring Kelly to cover a victim’s lifetime supply of herpes medication, deeming the cost excessive.
Once one of the most successful R&B artists of his time, Kelly was celebrated for hits like “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Trapped in the Closet.” Despite facing decades of allegations, he managed to prosper in the music industry until the #MeToo movement and the 2019 documentary “Surviving R. Kelly” reignited scrutiny.
His legal troubles intensified across multiple trials: in 2008, he was acquitted in a Chicago child pornography case; in 2021, he was convicted in Brooklyn on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking; in 2022, he was convicted in Chicago on charges of child sex abuse and pornography, receiving a 20-year sentence (partially concurrent with his 30-year term).
The Supreme Court previously declined to hear an appeal regarding his Chicago conviction.
