R & B singer R.Kelly, best known for his hit song, "I Believe I Can Fly," was convicted on Monday, Sept. 27 on all nine counts of sex trafficking and racketeering that the singer was charged with in federal court in Brooklyn, New York. He faces ten years to life in prison if the convictions are not overturned on appeal.

The artist has long been accused of abusing young girls and had previously faced state child pornography charges in Illinois in 2008. He was acquitted of those charges, but in the years since, he has faced even more scrutiny, including a documentary series on Lifetime in 2019 that led to the singer being dropped from his label and a number of collaborators denouncing him and refusing to work with him any more. It was in the wake of that documentary that new, federal charges were filed against the 54-year-old Kelly (born Robert Sylvester Kelly).

The key to the case is that Kelly was apparently employing a series of bodyguards and other employees to funnel a series girls, boys and young women to the star for the purposes of grooming and exploiting them sexually, while trying to insulate Kelly from exposure. The government determined that this operation (dubbed by witnesses as basically a "sex cult") was akin to a criminal enterprise, hence the racketeering charges.

Since Kelly was constantly touring over the years, the Mann Act, which makes it illegal to take anyone across state lines "for any immoral purpose" was also key to making this a federal crime and taking it out of state courts. Kelly actually faces still more federal charges back in Illinois, as well.

Pete Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security investigations in New York, said after the verdict, "Today's verdict brings an end to Robert Kelly's decade-long reign of terror over many vulnerable girls, boys and young women. With this verdict, it is my sincere hope that it will also begin the healing process for these brave survivors."

Beyond the criminal charges, Kelly also faces civil cases from his victims. Gloria Allred, who represents a number of the victim in their upcoming civil cases, released a statement after the verdict, noting "Of all the predators I have pursued ... Mr. Kelly is the worst. R. Kelly thought he could get away with this, but he didn't. I am very proud of my clients who agreed to testify in this case."

Source: CBS News