A federal jury convicted R&B singer R. Kelly of sex trafficking and racketeering on Monday.
New York prosecutors accused Kelly of using his popularity to target underage women into his orbit for sex for over three decades.
Kelly, 54, defiantly pleaded ‘not guilty’ to eight counts of violating a federal law that prohibits the transport of people cross-state for prostitution purposes.
Prosecutors argued that Kelly was a serial predator who used his fame to lure underage women into his inner circle and then subjects them to sexual abuse that sometimes leads to violent physical attacks that the singer recorded.
Singer R. Kelly is convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges at federal trialhttps://t.co/i7uMXzs1oN pic.twitter.com/BrOxnCPtrP
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) September 27, 2021
Kelly’s defense lawyers counter-argued that the accused is being framed by liars looking for a quick payday through possible book deals and media tours or vengeful music artists whose careers failed.
Deliberations by the seven-man, five-woman jury began on Friday afternoon. The trial began on Aug. 18.
