Megan Hutchinson
Staff Reporter
Famous rapper, R. Kelly is facing legal trial after sexually abusing women and using his fame, money, and power to silence and control them from speaking out. The prosecutor assigned to this high-profile case said that this case is “about a predator who used his fame to sexually abuse young girls, boys, and women. The prosecutor for this case is in a high-profile federal sex trafficking trial against R. Kelly. Using his fame and power, R.Kelly had the ability to hide his crimes in plain sight. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Cruz-Melendez on Wednesday morning at the Brooklyn CourtHouse states, “This case is about a predator who for decades used fame, popularity and a network of associates to groom girls, boys, and young women for his own sexual purposes.” Cruz-Melendez says R. Kelly has been using his, “clout, money, and public persona to hide his crimes in plain sight,” by surrounding himself with a team whose purpose was to promote his music and brand by fulfilling his every wish and demand. R. Kelly had learned he could take advantage by having his “pick of young fans around the country” when he had those fans around he used them psychologically, physically, and mentally.
This sexual conduct is illegal. He engaged with minors in their teens and recorded it, crossing multiple state lines, and exposing them to incurable herpes. Robert Sylvester Kelly, or R. Kelly, age 54 has been in federal custody since 2019. He pleaded not guilty to racketeering, bribery, coercion, enticement, and sex trafficking, also pleaded not guilty to sex-related crimes in Illinois and Minnesota. R. Kelly kept videos and photos in order to protect himself and keep his victims quiet. He would also pay off his victims in order to avoid legal trouble and criminal conduct. According to the Department of Justice, in 2019 for racketeering based on sexual exploitation of children, kidnapping, forced labor, and Mann Act violations. These charges included the coercion and transportation of women and girls in interstate commerce to engage in illegal sexual activity. The charges involved 6 women and girls.
The prosecutors will present witnesses and include “victims, associates, forensic psychologists, experts in DNA, official documents proving Aaliyah was 15, telephone records, travel records, medical and prescription records, physical evidence from searches of R. Kelly’s apartment and studio and storage facilities, video and audio recordings and letters from the defendant”.
Cruz-Menendez tells news officials that they are pleading for the people to hold him accountable for the sexual abuse of young women, women, and boys to hold him accountable for all accounts.
Image Credit: Getty Images
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