R. Kelly Sentenced To One More Additional Year Of Prison Time In Chicago Case

BYGabriel Bras Nevares849 Views
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While he was sentenced to 20 years in his Chicago case, the judge said he'll serve most of that time concurrently with his existing 30-year sentence from his New York trial.

R. Kelly was sentenced to 20 years in prison in his Chicago case, but most of that time will be served concurrently with his 30-year sentence from his New York conviction. Moreover, the disgraced artist will serve 19 of those 20 years at the same time he'll serve his other sentence, with one year of this new sentence served after his 30 years in a Chicago federal prison. Furthermore, U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber added just one more year to Kelly's overall sentence, totaling at 31 years. Also, he was convicted on charges of child pornography and enticement of minors in his Chicago case. On the other hand, his New York sentence came from convictions of racketeering and sex trafficking charges. All these charges, convictions, and sentences are on a federal level.

Furthermore, the sentence is less than what prosecutors and victims sought in the case. They believed Kelly's crimes constituted jail time for the rest of his life, and wanted the Chicago sentence to come into effect after he served his New York time. "The only way to ensure Kelly does not reoffend is to impose a sentence that will keep him in prison for the rest of his life," they expressed to Judge Leinenweber in court documents requesting an additional 25 years.

R. Kelly's 20-Year Sentence Is A Year-Long One In Practice

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 06: Singer R. Kelly leaves the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on June 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The singer appeared in front of a judge to face new charges of criminal sexual abuse. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

However, defense attorneys maintained that his existing 30-year sentence already constituted a practically lifetime sentence. For example, they pointed out many of the R&B singer's past traumas, defending that he was a hurt person who hurt people. Also, they brought up the star's diabetes condition and made seemingly successful arguments for leniency in his sentencing. In a riskier move, Kelly's legal team argued that the government sought to convict him on previously acquitted charges, and had mentioned accusations of racial bias compared to other celebrities.

Overall, the judge ruled that the singer's actions did not merit a sex trafficking sentencing enhancement. Leinenweber disagreed with prosecutors on the claim that Kelly used fear to seduce young girls, even after testimonies. Furthermore, he stated that deterrence is not a valid factor, since Kelly already lost his wealth and status as a result of his deplorable crimes. Regardless of your take on the sentence, come back to HNHH for the latest news and updates on R. Kelly.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.
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