Posted by Amarachi on Tue 28th Sep, 2021 - tori.ng
The R&B superstar who has long been trailed by accusations of s*xual misconduct and abuse was found guilty in New York.
R. Kelly
Embattled singer, R. Kelly has been found guilty on all counts in s*x-trafficking trial.
The R&B superstar who has long been trailed by accusations of s*xual misconduct and abuse was found guilty in New York today.
Kelly, who has been in custody for much of the time since he was formally charged in 2019, was convicted on one count of racketeering and eight counts of violating the Mann Act, a law that bars the transport of people across state lines “for any immoral purpose.”
Kelly, who faces decades in prison when he is sentenced on May 4, appeared stoic and wore a mask as the verdict was read aloud in the Brooklyn federal courtroom.
Kelly, best known for the 1996 hit “I Believe I Can Fly,” pleaded not guilty to all charges in the case. The singer, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, did not take the stand in his own defense.
Gerald Griggs, a lawyer who said he represents several Kelly accusers and their families, thanked his clients for their “immense strength” and expressed his gratitude to prosecutors.
“This is just the beginning. We’ve been fighting this battle since 2017 and many of the victims have been fighting this battle for years,” Griggs said. “Finally, their voices were heard.”