R. Kelly Pays Half-Million Judgement For Sex Crimes While In Prison

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.

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.

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.