Multi-platinum R&B singer R. Kelly, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Wednesday after being convicted of sex trafficking last year for exploiting his stardom and wealth over a quarter century to lure women and underage girls for sex.
The R&B singer still faces another trial for child pornography and other related crimes following accusations that have trailed him nearly his entire career.
Kelly, whose real name is Robert Kelly, was found guilty last year on eight counts of violating the Mann Act—trafficking women across state lines for sex—and one count of racketeering.
Six women gave victim impact statements before Kelly was sentenced, with one telling the singer she hopes he goes “to jail for the rest of your life” and another, Kitti Jones, saying she will take some of the things Kelly did to her “ to my grave,”
Prosecutors had asked the judge to sentence Kelly, 55, to more than 25 years behind bars, while his defense attorneys asked for 10 or fewer, saying prosecutors’ request was “tantamount to a life sentence”
Kelly’s lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean said before the sentencing the singer “rejects that he’s this monster” and is “widely accepted as a musical genius.”
R Kelly has awaited sentencing at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
