Singer R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison in a Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday after being convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking in September 2021. The verdict came out from Brooklyn Federal court on June 29.
The lawsuit was filed by Lizette Martinez, Faith Rodgers, and Lisa Van Allen in Manhattan Supreme Court last year. The three claimed that they were sexually abused when they were minors back in the 90s.
The Charges put on R. Kelly ranges from sexually abusing underage girls to racketeering the victims.
“I’m grateful that Robert Sylvester Kelly is away and will not be able to harm anyone else,” said victim Lizzette Martinez to the reporters.
According to reports, Kelly is ordered by US District Judge Ann Donnelly to pay a $100,000 fine in regard to the charges.
Prosecutors addressed that one of the victims of Kelly’s sexual abuse was threatened when a car that was parked outside her residence, was set on fire. The allegations were laid on Michael Williams who travelled to Florida and intimidated the witnesses.
“The men charged today allegedly have shown that there is no line they will not cross to help Kelly avoid the consequences of his alleged crimes — even if it means re-victimizing his accusers,” said Peter Fitzhugh, Special agent of Homeland Security Investigations.
Another trial is set for Kelly in August where he will be facing another charge for child pornography and obstruction of justice in Chicago.
“Today was a very special, but a hard day for us. Personally, this happened to me a long time ago, I was 17. I am 45 today. I never thought that I would be here to see him be held accountable for the atrocious things that he did to children. I don’t know what else to say, except that I am grateful, I am grateful for today, and I am grateful that Robert Sylvester Kelly is away, and will stay away and will not be able to harm anyone else”, said Lizzette Martinez outside the court.
Prosecutors also stated that Kelly planted the third man to threaten and intimidate the witnesses.
“He hasn’t attempted to intimidate anyone, or encouraged anyone else to do so,” tweeted Kelly’s defense attorney, Steve Greenberg.
Meanwhile, Donnell Russell, adviser, and manager of Kelly is convicted for harassing the victim and her mother.