Chicago Court Convicts Former Hometown Hero, R. Kelly, of Federal Child Pornography Charges
The jury is in and once again R. Kelly has been found guilty.
The once revered R&B singer who was already sentenced to 30 years in prison in June following a 2021 federal conviction in New York on racketeering and sex trafficking charges, including the sexual exploitation of children, was found guilty on Wednesday of three counts of child pornography and three counts of child enticement by another panel of peers in his hometown of Chicago.
Kelly, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, is facing 10 to 90 years of additional prison time at sentencing. A judge could determine that the sentence be served simultaneously with his previous conviction or after the first term is served. Either way, since federal inmates must serve at least 85% of their sentences, he is not likely to see a shot at freedom until well into his 80s, if at all.
"Mr. Kelly engaged in multiple sex acts with girls under the age of 18 and he recorded some of those sex acts on video," said U.S. Attorney John Lausch following the conclusion of the trial. "We are pleased with the fact that Robert Kelly is finally being held accountable for that reprehensible conduct. We are particularly pleased that Robert Kelly is finally, finally being held responsible for the abuse of his 14-year-old goddaughter."
While he was found guilty on six of the 13 counts he faced the jury did acquit Kelly on a fourth pornography count as well as a conspiracy to obstruct justice charge. The latter for accusing him of fixing his state child pornography trial in 2008. He was also found not guilty on all three counts of conspiring to receive child pornography and on other charges of enticement.
Kelly's co-defendants, former business manager Derrel McDavid and employee Milton "June" Brown, were cleared of all charges.
The once revered R&B singer who was already sentenced to 30 years in prison in June following a 2021 federal conviction in New York on racketeering and sex trafficking charges, including the sexual exploitation of children, was found guilty on Wednesday of three counts of child pornography and three counts of child enticement by another panel of peers in his hometown of Chicago.
Kelly, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, is facing 10 to 90 years of additional prison time at sentencing. A judge could determine that the sentence be served simultaneously with his previous conviction or after the first term is served. Either way, since federal inmates must serve at least 85% of their sentences, he is not likely to see a shot at freedom until well into his 80s, if at all.
"Mr. Kelly engaged in multiple sex acts with girls under the age of 18 and he recorded some of those sex acts on video," said U.S. Attorney John Lausch following the conclusion of the trial. "We are pleased with the fact that Robert Kelly is finally being held accountable for that reprehensible conduct. We are particularly pleased that Robert Kelly is finally, finally being held responsible for the abuse of his 14-year-old goddaughter."
U.S. Attorney John Lausch speaking to reporters, says #RKelly faces 10 to 90 years in prison for the counts he was convicted on. He also says “obviously we are disappointed” in the acquittals on other counts. pic.twitter.com/Z54kXcCVmI
— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) September 14, 2022
While he was found guilty on six of the 13 counts he faced the jury did acquit Kelly on a fourth pornography count as well as a conspiracy to obstruct justice charge. The latter for accusing him of fixing his state child pornography trial in 2008. He was also found not guilty on all three counts of conspiring to receive child pornography and on other charges of enticement.
Kelly's co-defendants, former business manager Derrel McDavid and employee Milton "June" Brown, were cleared of all charges.
#RKelly’s attorney Jennifer Bonjean speaking to the media after the verdicts pic.twitter.com/o22FAHjTtr
— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) September 14, 2022
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