R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
Prosecutors handling the case had suggested that the defamed R&B singer be sentenced to more than 25 years in prison.
According to CNN, they were shooting for a high sentence due to the extent of his crimes that span over decades. They continue in saying he has shown no remorse and has a "callous disregard for the very real effects that his crimes had on his victims."
Kelly's criminal behavior goes as far back as 1994, when he allegedly illegally married a then 15-year-old Aaliyah. An ex-manager for Kelly testified at his trial, claiming that he married her to avoid being charged with statutory rape, even going as far as having him bribe an Illinois government employee to obtain a fake ID for Aaliyah that showed she was 18, per the New York Times.
Lizzette Martinez, one of the victims who spoke at the hearing, told reporters,
“I personally don’t think it’s enough but I’m pleased with it."
Lawyer of the victims, Gloria Allred, also addressed reporters outside of the courthouse, saying,
“Together they were able to fight his power by becoming empowered. I’m proud of all of them.”
R. Kelly's legal team pushed for a lesser sentence, unveiling new evidence that Kelly was a victim of sexual abuse as a child. The abuse allegedly started when he was as young as 6 years old.
Today's sentencing doesn't mark the end of Kelly's legal troubles. On August 1, the singer is to appear in a Chicago court on even more charges of child pornography and obstruction of justice.
