Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of sex crimes and abuse. Reader discretion is advised.
R Kelly’s crimes, for which he is in jail today with a possible release date in 2045, include sex trafficking and racketeering, per CNN. The R&B singer’s first conviction came in September 2021 in Brooklyn, New York. According to BBC, a jury convicted him on eight counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering, for which he received a 30-year prison sentence.
Later, in 2022, R Kelly’s other crimes again caught up with him. A second trial in Chicago on the production of child pornography and enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity charges resulted in a second conviction. Following this, he received a 20-year prison sentence in a federal facility while already serving the previous term in jail.
Surviving R Kelly, Lifetime’s award-winning documentary series, looks into the singer’s crimes and other allegations he faces. Several women have accused Kelly of sexual abuse incidents that occurred when they were still minors. During one of his trials, a woman claimed she had sex with the singer “hundreds” of times before turning 18, noted BBC.
What crimes did R Kelly go to prison for & when is his release date?
Sex trafficking and racketeering are some of R Kelly’s crimes that landed him in jail, and his possible release date is December 21, 2045. Other crimes that resulted in his second conviction are in relation to child pornography and engaging in criminal sexual activity with a minor. R Kelly, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was once a popular R&B singer with a few of the greatest hits in the music industry. He now faces accusations of sexually abusing underage girls.
According to BBC, R Kelly’s alleged crimes span across two decades, with some allegations dating back to the 90s. While he has denied all allegations, two federal indictments have resulted in convictions. The first conviction occurred in 2021 in a Brooklyn court when his abuse victims testified against him in the trial. He received 30 years in prison and was in jail at the time of his second conviction in Illinois the following September. Kelly received a second 20-year jail term for that.
Federal prison records and CNN stated that R Kelly is serving jail time in North Carolina’s FCI Butner Medium I for his crimes today. However, both his prison terms are running simultaneously, reported Reuters. The judge who handed him the second sentence added one year to his previously existing 30-year term. The convicted sex offender also faces sexual misconduct charges in Minnesota.
