Overview

• R. Kelly’s 30-year prison sentence was upheld by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, confirming his 2021 convictions on racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
• The court found extensive evidence that Kelly leveraged his fame and a network of associates to target and control underage girls and young women for abuse.
• Arguments by Kelly’s legal team, including claims of juror bias and misuse of the RICO statute, were dismissed as without merit by the three-judge panel.
• The court also upheld restitution payments to victims, including compensation for herpes treatments, rejecting Kelly’s objections over the costs awarded.
• Kelly’s attorney indicated plans to potentially appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing the ruling improperly broadened the scope of the RICO statute.