Content warning: this article discusses sexual assault
R. Kelly faces decades of imprisonment after being found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking by a federal jury in Brooklyn, New York City yesterday, 27th September.
Reports from the Chicago Tribune and The New York Times indicate Kelly could be facing anywhere from 10 years to life in prison. He will be sentenced on Wednesday, 4th May 2022.
Kelly was charged in July 2019 and has been in custody ever since. The charges against him included 12 individual acts of racketeering and eight counts of sex trafficking (i.e. transporting victims across state lines for criminal sexual activity).
The trial commenced in New York City midway through last month. Over the course of three weeks, as many as 45 witnesses testified against Kelly. The deliberations of the 12-person jury—made up of five women and seven men—began last Friday, 24th September. Kelly was found guilty on all charges.
Kelly is yet to stand trial for separate charges in the states of Illinois and Minnesota. These include federal child pornography and obstruction charges and state-level sexual misconduct charges. A trial date will be set now that the case in New York has concluded. Kelly has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual assault, contact Respect for support on 1800 737 732.
