R. Kelly Sentenced

R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for using his R&B superstar status to manipulate young fans into systematic sexual abuse. The singer and songwriter was convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking last year at a trial that gave notice to accusers who had once wondered if their shocking stories weren’t taken seriously because they were Black women.

U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly gave the sentence at a courthouse in Brooklyn. The hearing today was nearly 3 hours, during the hearing Kelly did not address the court at all. According to FOX News, the victims all held hands while then the verdict was being read and R.Kelly didn’t make any reactions to his verdict.