R Kelly ‘did cruel things to children’, victim says after sentencing
R&BR singer Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted in federal court last year of sex trafficking and fraud.
Appearing in court on Wednesday, the disgraced singer remained silent as he heard some of his accusers making victim-impact statements recounting their experiences with the singer.
Prosecutors have called for R Kelly to spend more than 25 years behind bars to “protect the public” from the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer. He was convicted of nine counts last September, which included one count of fraud and eight counts of violating the Mann Act.
Gloria Allred, who represented the three women who testified against R Kelly, told reporters that “no one can undo the harm done to these victims,” denied his attorney. .
Meanwhile, the deputy executive director of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), who announced Kelly’s conviction, has meanwhile called the singer a “prolific mass predator who takes advantage of his wealth.” has and his reputation to prey on young and vulnerable people with dangling promises of fame, fortune and stardom for his own sexual satisfaction. “
What did R Kelly’s attorney say?
R Kelly did not testify at his trial in September, but lawyers representing the disgraced R&B singer described his accusers as “girlfriends” and “groups of friends.” along with his sexual behavior.
Those claims were dismissed by the court, which claimed the disgraced music artist had multiple crimes. Another group of lawyers representing Kelly recently argued that he should not receive a prison sentence of more than 10 years. Instead, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Wednesday.
His lawyers have blamed a traumatic childhood “involving severe sexual abuse, prolonged childhood, poverty and violence” on the 55-year-old’s conduct more than 50 years ago. two decades, when his crimes were committed.
Additional Associated Press reporting
Oliver O’ConnellJuly 1, 2022 11:00
ICYMI: R Kelly was convicted for what?
The disgraced R&B singer faced a series of charges before being found guilty in September of fraud, child sexual exploitation and sex trafficking – among other charges.
Kelly, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, sat motionless when convicted of those charges last year. He again remained silent on Wednesday’s sentencing day.
Oliver O’ConnellJuly 1, 2022 09:30
Opinion: R Kelly abused for decades tells a never ending story
“Wealth, power, racism and vanity have protected the R&B star, and we are far from destroying the culture that favors predators and villains. treat”, wrote Fiona Sturges in the comments section below:
Oliver O’ConnellJuly 1, 2022 07:30
Judge says ‘terrible’ is ‘not overpriced’
“The horror your victims endured,” U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly said in sentencing Wednesday. “No price is too high to pay for your happiness.”
According to court testimony, R Kelly made some of his victims underage at the time they met the singer, who denied ordering his accusers to sign the forms. non-disclosure (also known as NDA).
Prosecutors heard during their surveillance of him last year that “boys and girls” were said to be threatened and punished if they broke what they called “the rules of the Rob”.
The R&B singer was also accused of filming “embarrassing videos” of his victims.
Additional Associated Press reporting
Oliver O’ConnellJuly 1, 2022 05:30
Opinion: R Kelly’s prison sentence is the least that men like him should receive
“There’s something very, very rotten about the cult of men,” wrote The Independent’s Victoria Richards in the comments section below.
“Because it doesn’t end with abuse. This behavior has a ripple effect that spans decades; not only for the victims themselves, but for all who witness what men like this can get away with in the long run – and assume they can too.”
Oliver O’ConnellJuly 1, 2022 04:30
Conviction is a product of the MeToo movement
The sentencing of R Kelly to 30 years in prison is yet another victory for women’s rights activists and a product of the “MeToo” movement.
The sexual misconduct allegations against R Kelly were not made public until the “MeToo” movement surfaced on Twitter in 2006, when several women said they had been abused by actors. famous male animal.
The charges against Kelly peaked in 2019 after the release of the documentary “Surviving R. Kelly,” after which he was charged by state judges with aggravated criminal sexual abuse. .
Federal prosecutors later charged the R&B singer with sex trafficking and fraud, and his trailing took place last year, where he was found guilty.
Oliver O’ConnellJuly 1, 2022 03:30
Sentencing is justice for black women
R Kelly’s victims believe their stories were ignored because they were black women.
Speaking outside the court where he was sentenced on Wednesday, an unnamed survivor said: “There hasn’t been a day in my life, up until this point, that I really believed the justice system would pass. over for black and brown girls.”
Prosecutors heard the women tell the court about how the R&B singer forced them to “obey” and other “terrors.”
“I hope this verdict serves as its own testimony about how powerful, rich or famous your abuser is or how small they make you feel – justice only hears the truth. real,” US Attorney Breon Peace, as the Associated Press reported.
Oliver O’ConnellJuly 1, 2022 02:30
ICYMI: R Kelly sentenced to 30 years in prison for sex trafficking and fraud
R&BR singer Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sex trafficking and fraud.
He is sentenced in 2021.
Oliver O’ConnellJuly 1, 2022 01:30
‘R. Kelly used her fame, fortune and capabilities to prey on young people, the vulnerable and the voiceless,’ the attorney said.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, who announced R Kelly’s 30-year prison sentence on Wednesday along with Steve K. Francis, Acting Deputy Executive Director, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) said that the singer “used fame, fortune and favorable conditions to attract young people. “
Read his full statement while publishing the sentence here:
“R. Kelly used fame, fortune, and abilities to prey on young, vulnerable and voiceless people for her own sexual gratification, while many closed their eyes. ignorant.
“Through his actions, Kelly shows a callous disregard for the devastation his crimes have caused to his victims and shows no remorse for his actions. With today’s sentencing, he has finally been held accountable for his decades of abuse, exploitation and degradation of youth and other vulnerable young people. We hope that today’s verdict provides some measure of comfort and closure for the victims, including those who bravely testified at the trial, and consider it a long overdue admission. that their voices deserve to be heard and that their lives matter. “
Oliver O’ConnellJuly 1, 2022 00:30
The victim said the singer kept her like a ‘sex slave’
Lizzette Martinez, who issued a victim impact statement during Wednesday’s sentencing hearing in which she said she was R Kelly’s “sex slave,” said she hopes R Kelly will receive a harsher sentence.
“Personally I don’t think it’s enough but I’m satisfied with it,” she told reporters after the 55-year-old was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Other women who testified in the trial and sentencing did not make their names public.
Gino SpocchiaJune 30, 2022 23:30