After a nearly two-month trial, R. Kelly was convicted guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering at the end of last month. The accusations include a single count of racketeering and eight violations of the Mann Act, which forbids the transportation of people for the purpose of prostitution across state boundaries. According to the Chicago Tribune, the musician was placed on suicide watch less than a month after the conviction was announced.
Kelly’s lawyer, Steve Greenberg, told U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber on Wednesday that “after he was found guilty, [Kelly] was placed under suicide watch.” The watch, on the other hand, has been lifted. The news comes after his Chicago child pornography case was rescheduled till August 2022. He is also charged with obstruction of justice in connection with suspected witness tampering and witness intimidation in that case.
Kelly’s sex trafficking and racketeering case in New York has resulted in a guilty judgment, and he now faces life in prison. On May 4, 2022, the sentence phase of the trial will commence. Greenberg stated that he will be “revamping” his legal team in order to file an appeal after the sentence was completed. Kelly’s defense team for the New York trial was said to be unorganized and unprepared, according to sources.
