R. Kelly Sentenced To One Additional Year In Prison In Illinois Sex Abuse Case

Disgraced musician R. Kelly has been sentenced to one additional year in prison by an Illinois federal judge Thursday (Feb. 23). This sentencing comes nearly five months after he was convicted of sexual exploitation and enticement of a minor.

The sentence is to be served after the 30 years Kelly is currently serving after being found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking by a New York jury in 2021. He was found guilty on one charge of racketeering and eight counts of violating the Mann Act, which prohibits the transport of “any woman or girl” across state lines for an "immoral purpose" in 2021.

Federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber for the Northern District of Illinois to sentence Kelly for 25 years in prison arguing that he is "a serial sexual predator" who "poses a serious danger to society," per NBC. Kelly's attorney requested a sentence of around 10 years to be served alongside the New York sentence.

The judge said he believed "sentencing should be sufficient but not greater than necessary." He added, "everybody agrees that the nature of this offense is horrible, horrific."

Leinenweber's full sentencing includes 19 years to be served concurrent with the New York sentence.

Kelly was previously faced with 13 counts. Those included charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, receipt of child pornography, enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, conspiring to obstruct justice and conspiring to receive child pornography in the Illinois trial. He was acquitted on seven counts, including all of the charges related to conspiracy.