A verdict has been made Monday in rapper R. Kelly’s sex trafficking trial that took place over the past five weeks.
The 54-year-old “I Believe I Can Fly” singer has been found guilty on all nine counts of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges.
The U.S. Attorney EDNY tweeted out the verdict Monday afternoon.
R. Kelly has been convicted of racketeering by a federal jury in Brooklyn
— US Attorney EDNY (@EDNYnews) September 27, 2021
The case involved six young women, including the late Aaliyah, who married R. Kelly when she was just 15-years-old.
R. Kelly’s former attorney, Stephen Greenberg, released a statement to the public following the verdict, “We are extraordinarily disappointed in the verdict was returned by the New York jury today. Mike Leonard and myself believe that the verdict was not supported by the evidence and instead is a reflection of the hysteria whipped up by a couple of TV shows. We intend to continue to fight on R Kelly’s behalf to ensure that everything is being done that can possibly be done.”
We are extraordinarily disappointed in the verdict was returned by the New York jury today. Mike Leonard and myself believe that the verdict was not supported by the evidence and instead is a reflection of the hysteria whipped up by a couple of TV shows.
— Steve Greenberg (@SGcrimlaw) September 27, 2021
The accusations against R. Kelly span over the course of 1992 to 2017. Throughout the trial, many witnesses took the stand to testify, saying they were being groomed for sex by the rapper and in turn underwent psychological abuse.
R. Kelly has been in federal custody for the past couple of years, after allegations came out against him in 2017 through an investigation by Chicago journalist Jim DeRogatis, who brought to light that parents had told police that the singer was allegedly holding their daughters against their will in a “sex cult.”
In 2019, the Surviving R. Kelly documentary was released, which featured a number of women coming forth claiming to have been abused by Kelly.
Kelly has been able to escape any kind of accountability for the past number of years, until now.
Kelly will face sentencing on May 4, 2022 and could face up to decades behind bars.