Kelly (born Robert Sylvester Kelly) the R&B star and multi Grammy award winner is now a full-flagged ex-convict. He is also formerly jailed for 30 years His long walk to jail began more than three years ago when his almost well concealed criminal network finally came to a full disclosure following rigorous and detailed investigation by US detectives.
Clariform reported the trial of R. Kelly, when it commenced in Brooklyn, New York City, with a damming opening comments and characterization of R. Kelly from the US federal prosecutor who tried to sell the singer to the jury as a “predator” a sex abuser of minors and “a celebrity who likes to party a lot.”
Kelly was convicted about 9 months ago, after a high profile, very astonishing and revealing trial that unearthed sexual atrocities committed by the singer and his network of criminal employees and acolytes. He was however, yet to be sentenced until now.
The R&B star was notorious not only for sexual crimes, but mostly for the fact that his victims were mostly black women, many of who were misled into falling victim because of their desire for fame in America`s very lucrative showbiz industry.
Therefore, like some other celebrities whose stardom were caped and demolished by the #Metoo movement, R. Kelly, the multi Grammy award winner has fallen from grace to grass.
Clariform Showbiz brings to our readers all that matters in the tale of Kelly`s long work to jail.
The case against R. Kelly
The case against R. Kelly is sex abuse of minors including boys and girls. The prosecutor described it as a racketeering case where R. Kelly physically, sexually and psychologically dominated children — girls and boys — and women.
Kelly is also accused of often recording sex acts with these minors, and have used a company of supporters who mostly helped him recruit minors who he abused and also helped him cover his tracks.
Kelly`s lawyers had tried to push back on these allegations from the prosecutor. The lawyer had also characterize those who have come forward as victims of the sex abuse escapade as those who were disappointed for their inability to get Kelly`s affection. He described these victims as fans of R. Kelly who “were dying to be with him.”
Kelly had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Flashback on previous cases before 2021 trial
Clariform had earlier reported about R. Kelly`s sexual molestation and sex trafficking trial. R. Kelly was held in US federal prison awaiting trial since July 2019, between the cities of Chicago and New York since his federal indictments for sex abuse related offences were announced.
Kelly was moved to New York since June 2021 and detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal lockup in Brooklyn. He was detained in same prison with Ghislaine Maxwell, a British citizen who was indicted in the sex abuse case involving the late sex abuser – Jeffrey Epstein.
The R&B star officially come under court trial after the long wait, and was charged for offences, which were all sex-related cases in New York, Illinois and Minnesota. He was reportedly first arrested on sex-related charges in 2002 after a video, allegedly showing him having sex with a 14-year-old girl, was sent to the Chicago Sun-Times, but he was acquitted in 2008 after lengthy delays.
Kelly was also accused of bribing officials of the government in the state of Illinois in 1994 to sustain his marriage to the late Aaliyah, who was then 15 years as contained in new court revelations. He was accused of bribing the government officials for a fake ID listing Aaliyah as 18years on the marriage license.
The Threat of #MuteRKelly
The resentment of Kelly for his criminal activities has gone beyond the effort to put him behind bars for as long as possible because of “the seriousness of the offenses, the need for specific deterrence and the need to protect the public from further crimes” as the Persecutors in the trial had pushed for.
His now formerly sentenced, but his travails does not end with his jail term.
There is also a growing effort to ground R. Kelly financially. Those behind this push have created the #MuteRKelly campaign just like the #Metoo movement. They seek to preclude him from further profiting from his music and intellectual properties.
The #MuteRKelly campaign was founded and spearheaded by an arts administrator Oronike Odeleye and a social justice activist Kenyette Barnes. It was founded since 2017.
This campaign to deny Kelly further income from his previous works is still on going and not likely to be stifled by his conviction and jailing.
However, the revenues the “I believe I can fly” singer stand to receive from this previous literary works and loyalties associated with their licensing are already negatively affected by debts and lines of creditors already waiting on que for them.
More Federal trouble
Kelly is still facing a new trial in some new criminal charges in Chicago and Minnesota. These are US Federal charges against Kelly, for which he is scheduled to stand trial this August.
The said Federal charges will include trial in Illinois for child pornography and obstruction of justice. As the charges, which he already stand convicted and sentenced for, Kelly also already pleaded not guilty in the new ones.
He will also be retaining the services of different defense attorneys in the Federal trial. Kelly is said to have switched from his earlier defense attorneys to Jennifer Bonjean, who successfully defended Bill Cosby in 2021 for sexual assault.
In September, a jury in Brooklyn federal court found the fallen superstar guilty on all nine charges he faced, including the most serious of racketeering. Soon, all eyes will be on the federal trial.
