On February 12, 2025, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan upheld Robert ‘R. Kelly’ Sylvester Kelly’s sex trafficking and racketeering conviction. The Circuit Court found that there was ample evidence supporting Kelly’s conviction.
After a six-week trial in September 2021, a Federal Brooklyn jury found Kelly guilty of one count of racketeering and eight counts of violating the Mann Act. The Mann Act criminalizes the transportation of individuals across state lines for prostitution.
Kelly argued that the prosecution did not successfully prove that he ran a racketeering scheme in which he sought out and recruited underage girls and women for sexual acts. However, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals denied this claim, stating that prosecutors offered “extensive evidence showing how Kelly ensnared young girls and women into his orbit, endeavored to control their lives, and secured their compliance with his personal and sexual demands through verbal and physical abuse, threats of blackmail, and humiliation.” Circuit Court Judge Deny Chin noted that jurors were able to find that Kelly attempted to threaten to harm his victims if they did not comply with his sexual demands.
Kelly is currently serving a 30 year sentence for these convictions, most of which will run concurrent to the time he is serving for his newly upheld Illinois convictions. Kelly, now 58, is scheduled for release in 2045 and is currently housed in FCI Butner Medium I, a medium security men’s prison in Granville County, North Carolina. Jennifer Bonjean, Kelly’s lawyer, stated that Kelly may decide to appeal to the United States Supreme Court. The Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office did not comment.
The CSE Institute commends the bravery of the survivors who spoke out against Kelly in these cases. Their courage can act as a light to inspire others in similar situations to speak out as well, even if their abusers are rich or famous. Their decision to take a stand says to others: It does not matter if he is popular. It does not matter if he has resources. It does not matter if he is powerful. He has no right to abuse and exploit, and must be held accountable if he does so.
The CSE Institute also commends the law enforcement officials who worked hard to bring these charges against Kelly in both cases to ensure that he would be held accountable for his crimes. Their diligent work took a dangerous predator off the streets and sends the message that sexual abusers and traffickers cannot act with impunity in our country, no matter how much they believe they are entitled to do so.
All views expressed herein are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law or of Villanova University.