Federal prosecutors in New York want R. Kelly to face a minimum of 25 years in prison for his 2021 sex tracking and racketeering convictions.
Billboard reports that prosecutors in New York told a judge Wednesday (June 8th) that the 55-year-old singer “avoided punishment for almost 30 years and must now be held to account.”
In a brief filed Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn also made it clear that they believed Kelly deserved to spend the rest of his life in jail because he would be likely to commit further crimes if set free.
Prosecutors wrote, “Put simply, the defendant’s crimes were calculated, methodical, and part a long-standing pattern of using his platform as a larger-than-life musical persona and his deep network to gain access to teenagers, many of whom were particularly vulnerable, and then to exploit them for his personal gain and sexual gratification.
They continued, “The government has little doubt that if afforded an opportunity to offend again, the defendant would do so. He poses a serious danger to the public. His actions were brazen, manipulative, controlling and coercive. He has shown no remorse or respect for the law.”
His sentencing will take place on June 29th.
