Famous American singer Robert Sylvester Kelly alias R.Kelly was on Wednesday sentenced to 30 years in prison, for using his stardom and wealth over decades to subject underage girls into his orbit for sex.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly in Brooklyn federal court after hearing from several survivors who attested to how Kelly's exploitation reverberated across their lives.
Kelly, 55, was convicted last September following a 5-1/2 week trial that amplified accusations that had dogged the singer of the Grammy-winning hit "I Believe I Can Fly" since the early 2000s.
Earlier on Wednesday, several women who testified against Kelly during the trial spoke about how he had promised to mentor them and help them attain stardom, only to subject them to degrading sexual treatment and physical harm. Many said the abuse led to mental health problems that persist.
The 'I Believe I Can Fly' singer was in September 2021 convicted of child exploitation and racketeering by a Brooklyn court.
