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June 29, 2022
R Kelly given 30-year federal prison sentence for multiple racketeering and sex trafficking offenses
As this CNN article reports, "R&B singer R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday ... following his conviction last year on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges stemming from his efforts over years to use his fame to ensnare victims he sexually abused." Here is more:
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."
Survivors of Kelly's abuse held hands and prayed as US District Court Judge Ann Donnelly began reading his sentence. Kelly -- who wore a tan prison uniform, dark-rimmed glasses and a black mask at the hearing in federal court in Brooklyn -- showed no emotion.
"You left in your wake a trail of broken lives," Donnelly told Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly. In deciding the sentence, Donnelly said she considered Kelly's own traumatic childhood, during which his attorneys said he was repeatedly sexually abused by a family member and a landlord. "It may explain, at least in part, what led to your behavior," the judge said. "It most surely is not an excuse."...
Kelly's attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, said he would not address the court, pointing to the other criminal case faced by Kelly, but said before the sentence was read that her client "rejects that he is this monster."... Kelly made his only comment in response to the judge after Bonjean said he wouldn't speak: "Yes, your honor, that's my wish."...
Prior to sentencing, the court heard impact statements from seven of Kelly's victims, including Jane Doe 2, who testified at trial. "It's been 23 years since we knew each other, and you've victimized a lot of girls since then," she said, addressing Kelly. She later added: "Now it's your turn to have your freedom taken from you."...
Kelly is being held at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn and is expected to be moved back to Chicago, where he faces another federal trial in August on child pornography and obstruction charges. Childhood trauma revealed.
I believe federal prosecutors had argued in their sentencing memorandum that his guideline recommendation was life, which the defense claimed the guideline range was only 14 to 17.5 years. I have not found a press report discussion how the guideline dispute was resolved, though this local article indicates that Judge Donnelly "said that her sentence is one 'I would have imposed regardless of the guidelines'."
June 29, 2022 at 11:17 PM | Permalink
Comments
Back to back travesties of justice with the Maxwell and now the R Kelly. Sex trafficking as a term has been successfully embedded in order to replace everything sexual (prostitution, pandering, underage sex) and help to give these draconian medieval sentences.
A victory for feminist doctrine, a catastrophic defeat for males, American culture and art, fairness. Be careful of what you wish for. This and the Maxwell case is teaching everyone a far different horror story of a lesson than what they think it's teaching.
Goes a long way to bringing on the darkness to America. A travesty.
Posted by: restless94110 | Jun 30, 2022 4:53:41 AM
I tend to agree that both of those sentences were too harsh but "Goes a long way to bringing on the darkness to America?" Wow. Do you read the paper?
Posted by: whatever | Jun 30, 2022 10:06:14 AM