R Kelly was found guilty on all charges in his racketeering and sex trafficking trial by a New York jury on Monday. Kelly, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, could be spending the rest of his life in jail.
Kelly, 54, was accused of grooming and abusing young women and men for his own sexual satisfaction and of running a sex cult by trafficking individuals over state borders, according to several witnesses. He is also accused of bribing a government employee to assist him in marrying late R&B star Aaliyah when she was just 15 years old.
“Today’s verdict brings an end to Robert Kelly’s decade-long reign of terror over many vulnerable girls, boys, and young women,” Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security investigations, Pete Fitzhugh, said.
He was charged with one count of racketeering for allegedly coercing and transporting victims over state borders, as well as eight counts of violating the Mann Act. Kelly was characterized as calm and emotionless in court on Monday, simply nodding his head “no” in response to several accusations made about him.
Kelly was never called to testify. His attorneys argued the claims were nothing more than “lie after lie after lie” from “disgruntled groupies” seeking to bring him down.
“Of all the predators I have pursued … Mr. Kelly is the worst. Kelly thought he could get away with this, but he didn’t. I am very proud of my clients who agreed to testify in this case,” attorney Gloria Allred, who represented many of Kelly’s victims, said.
Kelly, who is known for his successful music career, spent decades honing his skills as a producer and musician. The Chicago native has received 26 Grammy nominations and has won three times for “I Believe I Can Fly” in 1997. He also produced “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number,” Aaliyah’s debut album.
Kelly has had his share of legal issues in the past. He was charged with 21 counts of possessing child pornography in 2002. He might have been sentenced to up to 15 years in jail, but he walked away from a five-week trial with no charges against him. Throughout his career, he has faced accusations of sex trafficking and having sex with minors.
