Singer and record producer R. Kelly was sentenced this Thursday to 20 years in prison for child pornography by a federal court in Chicago, USA.
The American will serve most of this term at the same time as 30 years in prison, which a New York court sentenced in June for other crimes, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Judge Harry Leinenweber has ruled that the R&B star must serve another year in prison when his 30-year sentence expires.
Robert Sylvester Kelly, 56, was convicted by a federal grand jury in Chicago of producing child pornography and kidnapping a minor.
During the trial, excerpts from videos showing the sexual abuse committed by R. Kelly against girls, one of whom was only 14 years old, were made public.
However, in June, a jury acquitted the artist of a fourth charge of pornography, as well as conspiracy to obstruct justice, accusing him of rigging a 2008 child pornography trial.
R. Kelly was found not guilty on all three counts of conspiracy to obtain child pornography and two counts of self-grooming.
His co-defendants, Darrell McDavid and Milton Brown, were found not guilty of all charges.
At trial, prosecutors tried to portray the singer as a master manipulator who used his fame and fortune to lure fans, including some minors, by sexually abusing them and then dumping them.
The artist, known around the world for his hit “I Believe I Can Fly” and a 75 million album sold, has long reigned in R&B despite allegations of sexual abuse.
In September 2021, he was found guilty of running a “system” for the sexual exploitation of young people, including teenage girls, and was sentenced in New York federal court last June to 30 years in prison for extortion and sex trafficking. .
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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