Despite being incarcerated on a decades-long prison sentence, R. Kelly has reportedly settled a significant financial judgment stemming from his criminal convictions on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
According to court filings dated Friday, November 29, in the Eastern District of New York, the disgraced singer has paid off the full $520,549.90 judgment, which was finalized in December 2022. The judgment was part of Kelly’s legal fallout after being convicted on multiple charges of abuse and exploitation.
The amount settled by Kelly includes several financial components: $379,649.90 in restitution to the victims, a $100,000 fine, a $40,000 Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act assessment, and a $900 special assessment.
R. Kelly performs onstage during R. Kelly, New Edition and The Jacksons at the 2013 BET Experience at Staples Center on June 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for BET
The court had ordered these payments as part of Kelly’s sentencing following his 2021 conviction on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges in New York and Chicago.
R. Kelly is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence for his crimes, with additional legal challenges still pending. His convictions came after years of allegations and legal battles surrounding his abuse of underage girls and young women, leading to widespread public scrutiny and condemnation.
R&B singer R. Kelly (C) arrives at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building for a hearing on June 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Kelly is facing several counts of aggravated sexual abuse.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Kelly’s legal troubles are far from over, as he faces further lawsuits related to his actions, but the payment of this judgment marks a significant, albeit grim, milestone in his ongoing legal saga.
Kelly’s ability to make such a payment from behind bars has raised eyebrows, but can be attributed to the popularity of his music catalog, as he has continued to ammass a substantial amount of income from royalties despite his public fall from grace.
Singer R. Kelly appears during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on September 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Kelly is facing multiple sexual assault charges and is being held without bail.
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