R. Kelly Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison

• R. Kelly, the former R&B superstar who had long escaped criminal penalties despite decades of sexual misconduct allegations, was sentenced Wednesday in a Brooklyn courtroom to 30 years in prison for racketeering and other crimes. Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was found guilty on nine counts of racketeering and other crimes last September, after his federal trial in New York shed light on how he used enablers and sycophants to ensnare fans and aspiring artists while controlling their lives.

As the New York Times reports, the lengthy sentence “marks the culmination of a stunning downfall for Mr. Kelly, 55, from a superstar hitmaker who was known as the king of R&B, to a shunned artist whose musical legacy has become inextricable from his abuses.” Kelly enjoyed major success in the 1990s and 2000s with hits like “I Believe I Can Fly.” But as his public image soared, Kelly exploited his vast access to young fans and aspiring artists at concerts, luring them into sex with little regard for their age.

In their sentencing letter, federal prosecutors noted that Kelly has shown no remorse and for decades “exhibited a callous disregard” for the effects of his abuse on victims, adding that his actions seemed to have been “fueled by narcissism and a belief that his musical talent absolved him of any need to conform his conduct” to the law. “He committed these crimes using his fame and stardom as both a shield, which prevented close scrutiny or condemnation of his actions,” prosecutors wrote. “And a sword, which gave him access to wealth and a network of enablers to facilitate his crimes, and an adoring fan base from which to cull his victims.”

Judge Ann M. Donnelly remarked that her sentence is one “I would have imposed regardless of the guidelines.” She spent several minutes detailing instances of abuse and violence that were brought up during the trial, and addressed Kelly directly about what he did to his victims, stating, “These crimes were calculated and carefully planned and regularly executed for almost 25 years. You taught them that love is enslavement and violence.”

Kelly was first accused of having sex with underage girls in the 1990s, and his illegal marriage to the singer Aaliyah in 1994, who was 15 at the time, prompted questions about his behavior. In 2002, Kelly was indicted on child pornography charges, but was acquitted at a 2008 trial in Chicago. As the Times story notes, “It was not until the #MeToo movement renewed scrutiny of his conduct that a new wave of charges arrived — and a conviction finally stuck in New York.”