R Kelly’s victims react after singer sentenced to 30 years in prison for sex trafficking: ‘I never thought I’d see him be held accountable’

R Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in jail (Image: Getty/AP)

R Kelly’s victims have spoken out after the singer was sentenced to 30 years in jail for intercourse trafficking.

Following a six-week trial in Brooklyn, Kelly, 55, was discovered responsible on all 9 counts towards him, together with a number of counts of racketeering, with the fees regarding bribery and compelled labour, by a jury in September final yr.

Kelly – who denied all expenses – was additionally present in violation of an anti-sex trafficking regulation referred to as the Mann Act.

The musician was sentenced to 30 years in jail by a US federal courtroom in New York for masterminding an scheme to sexually exploit younger aspiring singers and underage youngsters.

Earlier than the sentence was handed down, a number of of Kelly’s victims spoke within the courtroom, with one branding him the ‘pied piper of R&B’.

The identical sufferer, who used the psuedonym Angela, advised reporters after the sentencing: ‘I began this journey 30 years in the past, I used to be 14 years previous once I encountered Robert Sylvester Kelly.

‘There wasn’t a day in my life up till this second that I really believed that the judicial system would come by for black and brown women.

Kelly had no response when his sentence was handed down (Image: REUTERS)

Kelly was discovered responsible on all 9 counts towards him, together with a number of counts of racketeering (Image: REUTERS)

‘I stand right here very happy with my judicial system, very happy with my fellow survivors and more than happy with the result.

’30 years [is how long] that he did this and 30 years is what he acquired.’

Lizzette Martinez, who additionally learn an affect assertion in courtroom beneath the pseudonym Jane Doe, mentioned she was happy with the sentence however ‘personally didn’t assume it was sufficient’.

‘As we speak was a really particular however laborious day for us,’ she mentioned.

‘This occurred to me a really very long time in the past, I used to be 17 them and I'm 45 at present.

A number of of Kelly’s victims gave statements earlier than the sentence was handed down (Image: REUTERS)

Kitti Jones speaks throughout a witness assertion (Image: REUTERS)

‘I by no means thought I’d see him be held accountable, the atrocious issues he did to youngsters.

‘I don’t know what else to say, besides that I’m grateful.

‘I'm grateful that Robert Sylvester Kelly is away and can keep away and will be unable to hurt anybody else.

Requested if 30 years was a protracted sufficient sentence, Ms Martinez replied: ‘I personally don’t assume it’s sufficient however I’m happy with it.’

Jovante Cunningham, one Kelly’s victims, was seen leaving the courthouse (Image: AFP through Getty Photographs)

Kelly’s victims Lizzette Martinez (C) and Jovante Cunningham (R) spoke to reporters (Image: AFP through Getty Photographs)

Kelly didn't seem to react because the sentence was handed, with Choose Ann Donnelly saying throughout sentencing that he had used his ‘minions’ to ‘lure younger followers into your orbit’.

She added that he had taught his victims ‘that love is enslavement and violence’.

Choose Donnelly advised Kelly: ‘Sentencing one other human being might be probably the most tough factor a decide has to do.

‘It's truthful to say, Mr Kelly, that you're a person who had some nice benefit, you had worldwide fame and movie star, untold cash.

“Utilizing your standing and movie star… you had a system of individuals that you just used to lure younger followers into your orbit.

Kelly’s conviction carried a sentence of at the least 10 years (Image: Antonio Perez – Pool through Getty Photographs)

‘Having your minions troll for younger folks on the mall… handing out your cellphone quantity… for the chance to fulfill R Kelly.

‘You fancied your self a genius that may do “no matter I would like due to what I give to the world.”‘

The courtroom heard sufferer affect statements from seven girls, offered anonymously to the courtroom as Jane Does, who detailed Kelly’s ‘God-like complicated’ and the way he used his ‘fame and energy’ to entice his victims.

The girl utilizing the pseudonym Angela advised him: ‘The pied piper of R&B, each in music and in approach and in strategy.

‘Success and love… you offered these glittering gems as in the event that they have been gold.

‘With each addition of a brand new sufferer you grew in wickedness, cockiness, diminishing any type of humanity or self-awareness, which quickly grew to become the breeding floor on your God-like complicated.

‘You have been doing, saying and inspiring despicable issues that nobody must be doing.

‘We reclaim our names from beneath the shadows of your stricken trauma.’

Kelly’s conviction carried a minimal sentence of 10 years, with Federal prosecutors asking for a sentence ‘in extra of 25 years’, whereas the singer’s personal legal professionals requested he obtain beneath 10.