A U.S. federal appeals court has upheld R. Kelly’s conviction on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, confirming his lengthy prison sentence. The ruling, issued on Wednesday, February 13, 2025, by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, rejected claims that prosecutors did not provide sufficient evidence to prove that the singer organized a criminal scheme to recruit and exploit women and underage girls.
In a statement from Circuit Judge Denny Chin, who was writing for the three-judge panel, he noted that prosecutors provided extensive evidence illustrating how Kelly manipulated young girls and women, seeking to control their lives. He highlighted that Kelly used verbal and physical abuse, threats of blackmail, and humiliation to secure their compliance with his personal and sexual demands. The judge concluded that jurors had ample reasons to determine that the 58-year-old singer instilled fear in his victims to ensure they followed his demands.
Following the decision, Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, criticized the ruling and suggested a possible appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. She argued that the court’s interpretation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act was overly broad, claiming it misapplied a law originally designed to combat organized crime. “The decision gives the government limitless discretion to apply the RICO statute to situations absurdly remote from the statute’s intent,” Bonjean stated. “The statute was intended to punish organized crime, not individual conduct.”
spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn declined to comment on the ruling. R. Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2021 after being convicted on racketeering and multiple counts of violating the Mann Act, which prohibits the transportation of individuals across state lines for prostitution. His case was one of the most high-profile prosecutions of the #MeToo era.
Once celebrated for his musical achievements, including his 1996 Grammy-winning hit “I Believe I Can Fly,” Kelly now faces years behind bars as his legal battles continue.
Source: MyXYZonline
