10:53 am - February 13, 2025
In a significant legal decision, a federal appeals court upheld R. Kelly’s convictions for racketeering and sex trafficking, as well as his 30-year prison sentence, on Wednesday. The ruling, handed down by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, concluded that the renowned singer and songwriter had exploited his fame for over 25 years to sexually abuse young girls and women. This decision marks a major milestone in a case that has drawn widespread attention and public outrage.
The court’s decision came after hearing arguments in March and followed Kelly’s 2021 conviction in Brooklyn federal court on multiple charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking. Kelly, a Grammy-winning artist known for hits like I Believe I Can Fly and Trapped in the Closet, had been a dominant force in the music industry for decades. However, his career was marred by allegations of abuse, which began surfacing publicly in the 1990s. Despite these allegations, Kelly maintained a loyal fanbase and remained a prominent figure in the music world until the #MeToo movement brought renewed scrutiny to his actions.
Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, expressed her belief that the U.S. Supreme Court would agree to hear an appeal of the 2nd Circuit’s ruling. She criticized the decision as “unprecedented,” arguing that it granted prosecutors too much latitude in applying racketeering laws to situations far removed from the statute’s intended purpose. Bonjean also highlighted a partial dissent from Judge Richard J. Sullivan, who questioned a restitution award requiring Kelly to pay for a lifetime supply of herpes medication for one of his victims. Sullivan argued that the award unfairly favored the use of brand-name drugs over cheaper generic alternatives, which Bonjean characterized as an attempt to enrich government witnesses.
The 2nd Circuit’s ruling rejected numerous arguments raised by Kelly’s defense team, including claims that the trial evidence was insufficient, certain laws used against him were unconstitutional, and four jurors were biased. The court also dismissed objections to the use of a racketeering charge, which is typically associated with organized crime cases. In their decision, the judges emphasized that Kelly had been “enabled by a constellation of managers, assistants, and other staff” who helped him access underage girls. The court described how Kelly isolated his victims from their friends and family, controlled nearly every aspect of their lives, and subjected them to verbal, physical, and sexual abuse.
The appeals court furthermore defended the trial judge’s decision to allow jurors to view graphic videos, stating that the footage was relevant to understanding the “means and methods” of Kelly’s operations and the extent of his control over his victims. Additionally, the court upheld the credibility of testimony from accusers who alleged that Kelly had infected them with herpes without disclosing his own STD diagnosis. The panel agreed that this testimony was neither unduly prejudicial nor overly inflammatory, as it was directly tied to the charged crimes.
Kelly’s case has sparked widespread outrage, particularly in the wake of the #MeToo movement and the 2019 documentary Surviving R. Kelly, which brought renewed attention to the allegations against him. While Kelly was acquitted of child sexual abuse charges in Chicago in 2008, he was convicted in 2022 on charges of producing child sexual abuse images and enticing minors for sex. The 2nd Circuit’s decision to uphold his convictions and sentence represents a significant legal victory for his victims and a stark reminder of the long-term consequences of his actions. As Kelly’s legal team prepares for a potential Supreme Court appeal, the case continues to underscore the broader societal challenge of holding powerful individuals accountable for sexual misconduct.