American singer R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after decades of sexual abuse allegations.
US District Judge Ann Donnelly passed down the sentence after listening to statements from seven victims in Brooklyn federal court. Jurors had found the musician guilty of racketeering and violating the anti-sex trafficking law popularly known as the Mann Act.
In 2021, after a six-week trial that included testimony from 45 witnesses in a Brooklyn courtroom, a jury found him guilty of racketeering and violations of an anti-sex-trafficking law known as the Mann Act.
Several of Kelly’s victims, including some who testified at his trial last year, are delivering impact statements before he is sentenced. A victim identified as Angela looked at the accused, calling him out for luring children with his celebrity status and money.
R. Kelly’s case emanated from accusations by nine women and during the trial at least 45 people were called in to testify against the singer. The prosecutors said he should be sentenced to at least 25 years and a fine of between KSh 5.8 million and KSh 29.2 million.