R. Kelly will learn later this month how many years he will be spending in prison after being convicted of racketeering and underlying sex crimes.
Prosecutors said in a court filing on Wednesday that he should serve at least 25 years in prison, The Associated Press reported.
A jury in New York City found Kelly guilty in his sex-trafficking trial. Prosecutors said that the singer’s group of managers and aides who connected Kelly with women and girls and kept them obedient to Kelly, was equal to a criminal enterprise.
Kelly was found guilty of all nine charges filed against him, including one count of racketeering, with 14 underlying acts including sexual exploitation of a child, kidnapping, bribery and sex trafficking, as well as eight counts of violating the Mann Act that prohibits sex trafficking across state lines, CNN reported.
R. Kelly found guilty of racketeering, sex trafficking charges
For the racketeering charge, the jury needed to find him guilty of at least two of the 14 allegations. The jury found him guilty of 12 of the 14.
Several women testified in court about what Kelly did to them when they were underage.
Jurors heard allegations about a fraudulent marriage between the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer and R&B performer Aaliyah in 1994. She was 15 at the time and he thought she was pregnant with his child. Witnesses told the court that the couple was married using a license that indicated she was three years older than she actually was — 18. Kelly was 27.
Kelly had produced Aaliyah’s 1994 debut album which included the song “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number,” the AP reported. She died in a plane crash in 2001 when she was 22.
Prosecutors wrote in the filing that Kelly used his “fame, money and popularity” to “prey upon children and young women for his own sexual gratification.”
“He continued his crimes and avoided punishment for them for almost 30 years and must now be held to account,” prosecutors told the court, according to the AP.
Kelly’s attorneys said he should be sentenced to a maximum of 17 years in prison according to federal sentencing guidelines.
In addition to the 25-year prison sentence, prosecutors are recommending that Kelly be fined between $50,000 to $250,000, CNN reported.
Prosecutors hope that the lengthy sentence sends a message to others to deter them from similar crimes.
“While the government doubts that the defendant will be deterred, a lengthy sentence of imprisonment will serve to deter others — including those with wealth, fame and the outsized power such status brings — from engaging in similar crimes,” the filing said, according to CNN.
“This is particularly so given the high-profile nature of the defendant and the likelihood that the length of his sentence will be widely publicized,” the prosecution said.
Kelly is scheduled to be sentenced on June 29, the AP reported.
In this courtroom sketch, R. Kelly listens as the jury foreperson reads the verdict, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, in New York.
In this courtroom sketch, Judge Ann Donnelly addresses the jury and asks the foreperson for their verdict, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, in New York.
In this courtroom sketch, R. Kelly listens from the middle of defense table (white mask, glasses, blue jacket) while the jury foreperson, far right, reads the verdict, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, in New York.
U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn Kasulis gets ready to speak to the press on the guilty verdict of R. Kelly at the Brooklyn Federal Court House on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, in New York.
U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn Kasulis speaks to the press on the guilty verdict of R. Kelly at the Brooklyn Federal Court House on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, in New York.
R. Kelly defense attorney Deveraux Cannick, center, speaks to the media after a guilty verdict against R. Kelly at the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, in New York.
R. Kelly defense lawyer Deveraux Cannick speaks to the media after a guilty verdict against R. Kelly at the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, in New York.
Peter Fitzhugh, of Homeland Security Investigations, at the Brooklyn Federal Court House on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, in New York.
Peter Fitzhugh, of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, speaks to the media on the guilty verdict of R. Kelly at the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, in New York.
Attorney Gloria Allred speaks to the media on the guilty verdict of R. Kelly at the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, in New York.
R. Kelly performs at Madison Square Garden on October 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Michael N. Todaro/Getty Images)
Singer R. Kelly performs at the 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute To Industry Icons Honoring David Geffen at Beverly Hilton on February 12, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
R. Kelly performs at at Arise Made In Africa Spring 2012 Designer Collective at Mercedes Benz NY Fashion Week Afterparty at Jumeirah Essex House on September 15, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Donna Ward/Getty Images for Arise Made in Africa)
R. Kelly attends a "Trapped In The Closet" screening at Sunshine Cinema on November 19, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
R. Kelly performs at MSG Theater on November 21, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Rapper R. Kelly (R) performs with musician Thomas Mars (L) of Phoenix onstage during day 2 of the 2013 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 13, 2013 in Indio, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Coachella)
R. Kelly performs onstage during R. Kelly, New Edition and The Jacksons at the 2013 BET Experience at Staples Center on June 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for BET)
(L-R) Actors Sanaa Lathan, singer-songwriter R. Kelly, Nia Long and Melissa De Sousa attend "The Best Man Holiday" screening at Chelsea Bow Tie Cinemas on November 11, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images)
Singers R. Kelly (L) and Lady Gaga perform onstage during the 2013 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Recording artist R. Kelly performs onstage during the 56th annual GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring Lucian Grainge at The Beverly Hilton on January 25, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS)
Recording Artist R. Kelly attends Sony Pictures’ "THINK LIKE MAN TOO" Atlanta Red Carpet Screening With Kevin Hart, LaLa Anthony, Terrence J, Romany Malco and Tim Story, at Regal Atlantic Station 24 on June 11, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Sony Pictures Entertainment)
Singer R. Kelly attends the Ovadia & Sons front row during New York Fashion Week: Men’s S/S 2016 at Skylight Clarkson Sq on July 14, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
R. Kelly performs in concert at Barclays Center on September 25, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Pont/Getty Images)
R. Kelly performs during The Buffet Tour at Allstate Arena on May 7, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images)
Singer R. Kelly appears during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on September 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Kelly is facing multiple sexual assault charges and is being held without bail. (Photo by Antonio Perez – Pool via Getty Images)
Previous coverage:
• Jailed singer R. Kelly has COVID-19, delaying post-trial motions
• 3 alleged R. Kelly accomplices in sex abuse case charged with threatening, intimidating accusers
• R. Kelly found guilty of racketeering, sex trafficking charges