By: Jarrod Horton
Staff Writer
In July 2019, R. Kelly was indicted on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trial was delayed multiple times from its original start date. In 2020, he pleaded not guilty. In 2021, he was found guilty and in 2022 he was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
He made a formal appeal to those charges in 2023, and in February 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld the conviction and its corresponding 30-year prison sentence. I was aware of R. Kelly’s sentence, but after hearing it again, I realized that thirty years is a long time.
In a statement to The Associated Press, R. Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, called the ruling “unprecedented” and said that she believes the Supreme Court of the United States will agree to hear a further appeal. Until further notice, R. Kelly will have to sit and wait.