Entertainment
R Kelly Found Guilty in Sex Trafficking Trial and Faces Decades in Jail
R. KELLY was on Monday found guilty of racketeering as his sex trafficking trial came to an end following six weeks of graphic testimony.
The singer now faces decades in jail after pleading not guilty to charges accusing him of sexually abuse over two decades. A jury of seven men and five women found Kelly guilty of racketeering on their second day of deliberations. Several accusers testified in lurid detail during the trial, alleging that Kelly subjected them to perverse and sadistic whims when they were underage.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Cruz Melendez argued that Kelly was a serial abuser who “maintained control over these victims using every trick in the predator handbook”.
Prosecutors said accusers were under orders to call him “Daddy,” expected to jump and kiss him anytime he walked into a room, and to cheer only for him when he played pickup basketball games
The accusers alleged that they also were ordered to sign nondisclosure forms and were subjected to threats and punishments such as violent spankings if they broke what one referred to as “Rob’s rules”.
Some said they believed the videotapes he shot of them having sex would be used against them if they exposed what was happening.
Some of the most harrowing testimony heard that Kelly gave several alleged victims herpes without disclosing he had an STD.
Kelly wearing a mask remained motionless with his eyes downcast as the verdict was read out loud.