On September 27, R. Kelly was found guilty on all counts in a high-profile sex-trafficking case. Kelly, an R&B singer, was accused and found guilty of being a “serial sexual predator who abused young women, as well as underage girls and boys, for more than two decades,” according to NBC news.  

According to The Guardian, Kelly was “convicted of racketeering chargers for abusing women, girls and boys for more than two decades.” He also violated the Mann Act, which “makes it illegal to transport anyone across state lines ‘for any immoral purpose,’” as stated in The Guardian as well.  

Accusations and reports of abuse and inappropriate behavior with underage girls against Kelly have been surfacing for decades, starting in 1994 when he married 15-year-old Aaliyah Haughton while he was 27. Other legal troubles began in 1996 when Tiffany Hawkins sued Kelly and his record, publishing, and management companies due to “personal injuries and emotional damage arising from an alleged sexual relationship with R. Kelly” according to CNN. Their relationship began when Hawkins was 15 and lasted three years.  

The legal troubles followed R. Kelly into the 2000s, after leaked sex tapes with underage girls and other accusations and lawsuits by multiple women. However, many of these cases were settled out of court. In June 2002, Kelly was accused of 21 charges of child pornography, arrested, and then released on bail.  

After decades of facing allegations and being released on bail, Kelly’s conviction brings some justice to his victims, although the harm that his actions caused can never be erased.  

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

The survivors who testified described how Kelly forced them to film degrading videos, used sex to control them, and abused them. After he used his fame and money all these years to escape his wrongdoings and criminal acts, Kelly is finally going to face the punishment that he deserves for his heinous acts.  

“Of all the predators I have pursued…Mr. Kelly is the worst,” stated attorney Gloria Allred, who represented several of R. Kelly’s victims in the trials. “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.”