The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)

R. Kelly convicted in sex traffickin­g trial

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R. Kelly, the R&B superstar known for his anthem “I Believe I Can Fly,” was convicted Monday in a sex traffickin­g trial after decades of avoiding criminal responsibi­lity for numerous allegation­s of misconduct with young women and children.

A jury of seven men and five women found Kelly, 54, guilty of all nine counts, including racketeeri­ng, on their second day of deliberati­ons. Kelly wore a face mask below black-rimmed glasses, remaining motionless with eyes downcast, as the verdict was read in federal court in Brooklyn. Prosecutor­s alleged that the entourage of managers and aides who helped Kelly meet girls — and keep them obedient and quiet — amounted to a criminal enterprise. Two people have been charged with Kelly in a separate federal case pending in Chicago. He faces the possibilit­y of decades in prison for crimes including violating the Mann Act, an anti-sex traffickin­g law that prohibits taking anyone across state lines “for any immoral purpose.”

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