R. Kelly has received a 20-year sentence in his most recent sex crimes case in Chicago. The sentencing comes after he was found guilty in his federal child pornography case in September 2021. In a hearing on February 23, US District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber decided that Kelly would only serve one additional year in jail, as all but one year of his new sentence will run concurrently with his existing 30-year sentence for sex trafficking in New York.
A report released by the United States Attorney's Office stated that R. Kelly used his celebrity and wealth to attract and victimize young girls while obstructing prior criminal proceedings to end his conduct. U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch hailed the decision as a victory for the courage and strength of the victims who came forward to expose Kelly's crimes. He stated that the public can take comfort in the knowledge that Kelly will never again be in a position to exploit young girls.
According to CNN, the prosecution initially sought a 25-year sentence to be added after R. Kelly completed the 30 years he is already serving. Prosecutors argued that Kelly is a serial sexual predator who targeted young girls over many years and went to great lengths to conceal his abuse. They claimed that Kelly refuses to accept responsibility for his crimes, even following the jury verdict against him.
However, Kelly's defense argued that he is already essentially serving a life sentence, and there is no reason to believe he would reoffend as a geriatric in his mid-80s. They claimed that the majority of his criminal conduct was committed a quarter of a century ago.
R. Kelly had more state criminal charges pending in Illinois. However, last month, the Illinois prosecutor dropped the charges, stating that Kelly is already serving a de facto life sentence. XXL has reached out to R. Kelly's attorney for comment.
In summary, R. Kelly has received a 20-year sentence in his most recent sex crimes case in Chicago. Although the prosecution initially sought a 25-year sentence, Judge Harry D. Leinenweber decided that Kelly would only serve one additional year in jail, with all but one year of the sentence running concurrently with his existing 30-year sentence for sex trafficking in New York. The decision was celebrated by U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch as a victory for the courage and strength of the victims who came forward to expose Kelly's crimes.
