Yahoo News R Kelly trial – live: R Kelly convicted of racketeering by a federal jury
A verdict has been reached in R Kelly’s federal trial in New York City.
The verdict came through on Monday afternoon.
The substance of the verdict isn’t known yet and will be announced soon. The judge has summoned the parties to a courtroom in Brooklyn for the verdict to be read.
Kelly has been charged with racketeering predicated on criminal conduct including sexual exploitation of children, kidnapping, forced labor and Mann Act violations involving the coercion and transportation of women and girls in interstate commerce to engage in illegal sexual activity.
He is also charged with four counts of violating the Mann Act related to his interstate transportation of a victim to New York to engage in illegal sexual activity, and his exposure of her to an infectious venereal disease without her knowledge.
Kelly has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.
Follow the latest updates with our live blog below:
20:24 , Graeme Massie
Verdict is first conviction against singer after 20 years of allegations
20:24 , Graeme Massie
The verdict is the first criminal conviction against R Kelly. In 2008, he was acquitted by a Cook County jury of child pornography charges alleging he videotaped himself having sex with a girl as young as 13.
R Kelly convicted after short jury deliberation
20:20 , Graeme Massie
Kelly had been on trial in New York and was found guilty on one count of racketeering, with 14 underlying acts that included sexual exploitation of a child, kidnapping, bribery, and sex trafficking charges.
The singer was also charged with eight additional counts of violations of the Mann Act, a sex trafficking law.
The jury were only given the case on Friday afternoon and returned a verdict on Monday afternoon.
R Kelly convicted of racketeering by a federal jury in Brooklyn
20:18 , Graeme Massie
R. Kelly has been convicted of racketeering by a federal jury in Brooklyn
— US Attorney EDNY (@EDNYnews) September 27, 2021
Singer faces string of charges
20:16 , Graeme Massie
Kelly has been on trial in New York on one count of racketeering, with 14 underlying acts that included sexual exploitation of a child, kidnapping, bribery, and sex trafficking charges.
The singer was also charged with eight additional counts of violations of the Mann Act, a sex trafficking law.
Racketeering is most commonly used in organised crime cases but can also be used to prosecute any ongoing coordinated illegal scheme or criminal enterprise to carry out a common purpose.
20:10 , Clemence Michallon
A jury of seven men and five women has reached a verdict in R Kelly’s federal trial.
The verdict hasn’t been announced yet but is expected to be revealed soon. The judge in the case has summoned the parties to a courtroom in Brooklyn for the verdict to be read.
The jury began deliberating on Friday afternoon, meaning the verdict was reached after less than a full day of deliberations.
