R. Kelly was convicted by a federal jury on Monday of racketeering in his sex trafficking trial, where prosecutors accused the R&B singer of exploiting his stardom over a quarter-century to lure women and underage girls into his orbit for sex, according to Reuters.
Jurors in Brooklyn federal court deliberated for a little more than a day before voting to convict the 54-year-old Kelly on all nine counts he faced.
Kelly kept his head down as the verdict was read, with his face shielded by a white mask.
A woman watching from an overflow courtroom cried as the verdict was read.
A lawyer for Kelly told reporters that the defense was disappointed. "I'm sure we'll be appealing," he said.
Kelly faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years behind bars, and could face up to life in prison at his May 4, 2022 sentencing.
During the six-week trial held in Brooklyn, nine women and two men took the stand and confirmed R. Kelly sexually abused them. They also accused him of rape, enforced drug abuse, obstruction, and children pornography.
#MeToo Movement
The singer, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, is one of the most prominent people tried on sex charges during the #MeToo movement, which amplified accusations that had dogged him since the early 2000s.
The movement exposed many men involved in sexual abuse and harassment including artists, politicians, and businessmen. Tens of prominent figures were forced to quit their positions following these accusations, many of which have been investigated by the police. It's worth mentioning that many of Kelly's victims are black.
Some of Kelly's charges were exposed in a documentary dubbed "Surviving R. Kelly" aired on the Lifetime network.
For years, the "I Believe" singer denied all the sexual abuse charges including those mentioned in the documentary.
He won three Grammys, and has a long record of hit songs like "Bump N' Grind" and "Your Body's Callin".
The famous singer is still facing tough charges related to sexual abuse in Chicago, Illinois, and New York.
