R. Kelly was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in prison, following the multiplatinum R&B singer's conviction for exploiting his stardom and wealth over decades to lure women and underage girls into his orbit for sex.
The sentence was imposed nine months after Kelly, 55, was convicted of racketeering and sex crimes, in a trial that amplified accusations that had dogged the singer of the Grammy-winning hit "I Believe I Can Fly" for two decades.
In Brooklyn federal court, U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly said the evidence reflected Kelly's "indifference to human suffering" and "sheer brutality" toward his victims.