R Kelly files appeal in New York after he was sentenced to 30 years in prison
R Kelly is appealing the New York case after he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sex trafficking and racketeering
- Disgraced rapper R Kelly has appealed his New York case after being sentenced to 30 years in prison last summer for sex trafficking and racketeering
- In documents obtained by TMZ, Kelly, 56, put forward multiple arguments as to why he believes the conviction should be overturned
- The arguments range from a possibly biased jury to claims that he was misled about the ages of the minors he had relationships with
- Kelly received his 30-year sentence in Brooklyn last year. He was also sentenced to 20 years in Chicago in February
Disgraced rapper R Kelly has appealed his New York case after being sentenced to 30 years in prison last summer for sex trafficking and racketeering.
In documents obtained by TMZKelly, 56, put forward multiple arguments as to why he believes the conviction should be overturned, ranging from a possibly biased jury to claims he was misled about the ages of the minors he had relationships with.
Kelly wants the appeals court to overturn his convictions or order a new trial. The appeal was filed Tuesday by his attorney Jennifer Bonjean.
Kelly’s legal team believes the government “failed to meet its burden of proof in court,” even though a jury found him guilty on all counts. He was convicted of sex trafficking and extortion charges in September 2021, after a nearly six-week trial.
His lawyers also claimed that at least four of the jurors revealed they pre-empted his guilt before officially submitting their verdict.
Disgraced rapper R Kelly has appealed his federal sex suit in New York after being sentenced to 30 years in prison last summer for sex trafficking and abusing young girls
His legal team claims that at least two of the jurors watched Surviving R. Kelly, the explosive 2019 documentary that gave his accusers a voice. His lawyers believe that these individuals should never have been placed on the jury.
Kelly also defended the underage girls he accused of grooming and molestation. He claims that some of the girls were at least 18 years old when they met and had sexual relations.
Prosecutors alleged that Kelly began grooming the women when they were minors.
As for the cases where Kelly allegedly met the girls when they were actually minors, his legal team claims the girls misled Kelly about their actual age at the time.
His lawyers also objected to evidence being allowed to see by the jurors, arguing that what eventually made it to court harmed his ability to receive a fair trial.
Stories about his sex life, former partners, STDs, sexual preferences and bedroom behavior were irrelevant to the crimes he was charged with, Kelly claimed. They believe those stories were brought in to influence the jury.
Kelly also objected to the presence of his former employees and associates brought in to testify. He claims that they testified falsely on topics they did not have a deep understanding of and were unfamiliar with as his employees.
Since Kelly was indicted in Cook County in 2019, federal juries in Chicago and New York have convicted him of a range of crimes, including child pornography, enticement, extortion and sex trafficking related to allegations that he victimized women and girls.
Kelly received his 30-year sentence in Brooklyn last year. He was also sentenced to 20 years in Chicago in February after being convicted of three counts of producing child pornography and three counts of enticing a minor into sexual activity.
In documents obtained by TMZ , Kelly made multiple arguments as to why he believes the conviction should be overturned, ranging from a potentially biased jury to claims he was misled about the ages of the minors he had relationships with; Kelly pictured in court in Chicago in 2019
Nineteen of those years will be served concurrently with his pending 30-year sentence for his 2021 conviction on racketeering and sex trafficking charges in New York federal court, with only one year served consecutively in a Chicago federal prison.
The Chicago conviction is still under appeal.
Kelly was convicted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges in September 2021 following a nearly six-week trial that cemented allegations that had dogged the singer of the Grammy-winning hit “I Believe I Can Fly” since the early 2000s.
Judge Ann M. Donnelly handed down Kelly’s sentence in Brooklyn Federal Court and told Kelly he created “a trail of broken lives,” adding that “the most seasoned detectives will not forget the horrors endured by your victims.”
“These crimes have been calculated and carefully planned and carried out regularly for nearly 25 years,” she said. “You taught them that love is slavery and violence.”
Kelly, who declined to speak about his sentencing, learned his fate after some of his accusers tearfully and furiously told the court that he had preyed on them and deceived his fans. He was also ordered to pay a $100,000 fine.
Kelly pictured in his 2019 Chicago mugshot