Kelly has been handed a prison sentence after being found guilty of abusing young girls in a shocking sex trafficking scheme that lasted decades.
On Wednesday, the disgraced R&B superstar was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison as the judge told him he forced his victims, including fans who were minors, into believing that “love is enslavement and violence.”
The sentencing comes following a six-week trial at the end of which the musician was convicted on racketeering and s*x trafficking charges stemming from his abuse scheme that reportedly lasted for nearly 25 years.
Sentencing Kelly at Brooklyn Federal Court, Judge Ann M. Donnelly said: “These crimes were calculated and carefully planned and regularly executed for almost 25 years. You taught them that love is enslavement and violence.”
While the defense asked for a prison sentence of ten years or less, the judge insisted “the public needs to be protected” from the predator.
Kelly declined to speak at his sentencing. As of this writing, it remains unclear where he will serve his sentence.
Following the verdict and the sentencing, Breon S. Peace, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, suggested the prison sentence represents a “significant” outcome that sends an important message – that abusers, no matter “how rich and famous,” will be brought to justice.
“He continued committing his crimes for almost 30 years and avoided punishment — until today. These are the voices of mostly Black and brown women and children who were heard and believed,” Peace said.
“Justice was finally achieved. This is a victory for them, for justice, and victims of sexual assault. Victims must be heard, perpetrators must be held accountable, and women and children must be protected.”
Reacting to the sentencing was also Lizzette Martinez, one of Kelly’s victims.
Martinez, who said she was “a girl full of life” before meeting Kelly, suggested she is “pleased” with the sentence even though she doesn’t think it is big enough for what he had done.
Meanwhile, Kelly’s attorney Jennifer Bonjean revealed they plan to appeal as she insisted that her client is not a predator.
“He’s not a predator. He has regrets and he is sad. He disagrees with the characterizations that have been made about him,” she said.
“30 years in prison is like a life sentence for him.”
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