R. Kelly's Sex Trafficking & Racketeering Convictions Upheld As He Loses Appeal

R. Kelly‘s sex trafficking and racketeering convictions have been upheld as the disgraced singer’s efforts to overturn them have been unsuccessful.

Kelly, 58, was found guilty in New York in 2021 of multiple charges and subsequently sentenced to 30 years in prison, but took the case to the Circuit Court of Appeals in an attempt to throw out the convictions.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan rejected his appeal on Wednesday (February 12) after hearing arguments last March.

The three-judge panel overseeing the appeal concluded that the R&B star “exploited his fame to lure girls and young women into his grasp” for over 25 years.

“Evidence at trial showed that he would isolate them from friends and family, control nearly every aspect of their lives, and abuse them verbally, physically, and sexually,” they added.

Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, slammed the dismissal as “unprecedented” and intimated that they now plan to take the fight to the Supreme Court.

The singer’s appeal centered on the argument that evidence produced during the trial was inadequate, as well as numerous other technicalities such as biased jurors and laws being applied improperly.

The high court previously refused to hear a separate appeal from R. Kelly relating to his 2022 conviction in Chicago on child sex charges.

related news

R. Kelly Defends Diddy Against Sex Trafficking Charges: 'I Don't Believe None Of [It]'

September 27, 2024

In addition to his various convictions, the “Ignition” hitmaker has also been accused of sexually abusing his own daughter.

Kelly’s daughter, Joann (a.k.a. Buku Abi), came forward with the shocking allegations in the 2024 documentary, Karma: A Daughter’s Story.

The now 26-year-old claimed that she once woke up to find her father touching her and pretended to be asleep. In a trailer for the documentary, Abi is heard alluding to the life-shattering moment.

“He was my everything. For a long time, I didn’t even wanna believe that it happened,” she says while crying. “I didn’t know that even if he was a bad person, that he would do something to me. I really feel like that one millisecond completely just changed my whole life.”

Kelly’s attorney later denied the claims during an appearance on NewsNation, saying: “The allegation was investigated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. [R. Kelly] was under criminal investigation at the time.

“He’s probably the most highly-investigated individual on the planet when it comes to these types of claims. The Illinois DCFS determined that the allegation was unfounded many years ago. He certainly denies it, and it’s our position that, if there was any merit to the claims, certainly charges would have been brought.”