R. Kelly sentenced in Chicago child pornography case

CHICAGO - R. Kelly spent four weeks on trial last year in a Chicago courtroom, where prosecutors called more than 20 witnesses to lay out evidence of his sexual abuse of teenage girls dating back roughly 25 years — including the production of a notorious child pornography video.

A federal judge heard again Thursday from three of Kelly’s victims, who explained the many years of torment and damage inflicted by the R&B superstar whose real name is Robert Kelly.

One spoke nervously, saying she felt used and "rejected in every way imaginable." Another, through her attorney, told the judge that "Robert shattered me."

But at the end of a two-and-a-half hour hearing, U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber handed down a prison sentence that effectively added just one year to a separate 30-year sentence Kelly is already serving for his 2021 New York racketeering conviction.

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"No matter what I do, Mr. Kelly isn’t going out the door after today," Leinenweber said. "He’s not going out the door in the next 10 years. He’s not going out the door in the next 20 years."

Rather, the Grammy-winning artist who once won hearts around the world with his "I Believe I Can Fly" anthem in the 1990s, remains on track to leave prison in the 2040s when he’s in his late 70s.

Leinenweber officially sentenced Kelly to 20 years in prison for his conviction in Chicago on three counts of producing child pornography and three counts of enticing minors into criminal sexual activity. But the judge fashioned the sentence so Kelly will serve 19 of those years while also serving his New York sentence.

The judge set aside just one year of the Chicago sentence, ordering that Kelly not start serving it until he’s finished with his New York sentence, likely around 2044.

Kelly sat stone-faced throughout much of the hearing, offering minimal reactions at times. He wore an orange jail jumpsuit and black glasses. But when the hearing ended, and fans called out "we love you Rob" from the courtroom gallery, Kelly patted his chest and waved before being led away.

Federal prosecutors had asked the judge to add 25 years to Kelly’s time in prison. But speaking to reporters after the hearing, U.S. Attorney John Lausch insisted the 20-year sentence is still "impactful," regardless of how it’s served.

Lausch did express disappointment with Leinenweber’s ruling that Kelly owed just $42,000 in restitution to one victim, known in court as "Pauline." Prosecutors had sought at least $11 million total for Pauline and two others, known in court as "Jane" and "Nia."

The most serious crimes in Kelly’s Chicago case revolved around his sexual abuse of Jane, who is now 38. Kelly sexually abused Jane on camera when she was around 14. The videos he made included one that went public in the early 2000s.

Jane’s Boston-based attorney, Christopher Brown, told the Chicago Sun-Times after the hearing that he and his client are "satisfied with the sentence."

"All we ever wanted was accountability," he said.

The Chicago sentence also offers some assurance that Kelly will remain in prison even if his sentence in New York is one day overturned. Defense attorney Jennifer Bonjean later pointed out that such a development could force a new sentencing hearing in Chicago, though.

Leinenweber said that, if he’d had the opportunity to sentence Kelly first, he likely would have handed down the same sentence. Regardless, Bonjean told reporters the outcome of Thursday’s hearing was "a win."

"Mr. Kelly is in good spirits," Bonjean said. "He is pleased with the outcome of the case. Again, there’s still a big fight ahead of us."

That’s because Kelly’s legal odyssey is not over. While Thursday’s hearing resolved the most serious charges against him, his attorneys will now turn to battles in the appellate courts. Kelly has already filed an appeal in the New York case, and one is expected in Chicago.

Meanwhile, Kelly still faces prostitution charges in Minnesota. Cook County prosecutors dismissed their own cases against him last month.

Before handing down the sentence Thursday, Leinenweber heard from the three women that a jury last year convicted Kelly of abusing.

Brown read a written statement from Jane, who said she lost her dreams — and nearly her entire family — because of the abuse that began after she asked Kelly to be her godfather. She reminded the judge that "millions of people" have seen the graphic tape he made of her abuse, including a scene in which he urinated on her.

"I will forever be the girl that Robert Kelly pissed on," she said.

Kelly started abusing Pauline when she was 14, after Jane introduced them. Now 38, Pauline told the judge she once thought she was "going to conquer the world" with Kelly. She’s since realized the pain he caused her and said she doesn’t trust anyone else to watch her children.

She said Kelly’s abuse also destroyed her relationship with her best friend, Jane.

Leinenweber also heard from Nia, who is now 42. She tucked her hands into her pockets as she struggled through much of her statement. Kelly abused her twice when she was around 15, once by fondling her and masturbating after a concert in Minnesota and then by fondling her in his Chicago recording studio.

Nia said that, while planning to meet Kelly after the Minnesota concert, she felt like "Cinderella going to a ball." That was when she was a "skinny, shapeless teenager" who "looked like a child," though. She said she met Kelly again later, as a woman, and he seemed to disregard her.

Nia told Kelly, "You were only interested in children."

Shining star to convicted sex offender

A timeline of Kelly’s life through his rise and fall as an R&B artist:

— 1990: R. Kelly’s R&B group MGM wins the $100,000 grand prize on the syndicated television talent show "Big Break," hosted by Natalie Cole. Because of money disagreements, that is the last time the group performs together.

— January 1992: R. Kelly & Public Announcement debuts "Born Into The ’90s." Released a year later, the album goes platinum.

— November 1993: His album "12 Play" is released and sells more than 5 million copies. Hit singles include "Sex Me" and "Bump N’ Grind," which becomes the longest-running No. 1 R&B song in more than 30 years.

— Aug. 31, 1994: At age 27, R. Kelly marries 15-year-old R&B singer Aaliyah D. Haughton in a secret ceremony arranged by Kelly at a Chicago hotel. The marriage is annulled months later because of Aaliyah’s age. (Aaliyah died in a plane crash seven years later, at age 22.)

— November 1996: R. Kelly releases his third album, "R. Kelly." A month later, he incorporates Rockland Records. His song "I Believe I Can Fly," from the "Space Jam" soundtrack, peaks at No. 2 on the Billboard pop chart. The same year, he marries 22-year-old Andrea Lee, a dancer from his touring troupe. The couple has three children: Joanne, Jaya and Robert Jr.

— February 1998: Kelly wins three Grammys for "I Believe I Can Fly."

— August 2001: Tracy Sampson files a lawsuit against Kelly, alleging their sex was illegal under Illinois law because he was in "a position of authority" over her. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

— Feb. 8, 2002: The Chicago Sun-Times reports that it received a videotape allegedly showing Kelly having sex with a minor. The paper reports that Chicago police began investigating allegations about Kelly and the same girl three years earlier. At the time, the girl and her parents deny she was having sex with Kelly.

The day the news breaks, Kelly performs at the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

— June 5, 2002: Kelly is indicted in Chicago on child pornography charges related to the sex tape. He pleads not guilty and is released on $750,000 bail.

— May 9, 2008: Kelly’s child pornography trial begins.

— June 13, 2008: Kelly is acquitted on all counts after less than a day of deliberations.

— June 27, 2012: Kelly publishes his autobiography, "Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me," focusing on his creative and family life rather than his legal troubles.

— Sept. 29, 2012: Kelly is nominated for two Soul Train Awards, making him the most nominated act ever at the awards show.

— July 17, 2017: BuzzFeed reports on parents’ claims that Kelly brainwashed their daughters and was keeping them in an abusive "cult." One woman says she was with Kelly willingly. Activists launch the #MuteRKelly movement, calling for boycotts of his music.

— May 2018: Spotify cuts R. Kelly’s music from its playlists, citing its policy on hateful conduct. Shortly after, Apple and Pandora also stop promoting his music. Kelly’s team pushes back, noting other artists on Spotify have been accused or convicted of crimes.

— Jan. 3, 2019: Lifetime airs the documentary "Surviving R. Kelly," which revisits old allegations and brings new ones into the spotlight. The BBC’s "R Kelly: Sex, Girls & Videotapes," released the previous year, alleges the singer held women against their will.

— Jan. 21, 2019: Multiple media outlets report that Kelly and his label, Sony subsidiary RCA Records, part ways. Kelly continues to deny all abuse allegations.

— Feb. 22, 2019: Kelly is arrested and charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse.

— Feb. 25, 2019: Kelly’s attorney enters not guilty pleas on the singer’s behalf. Hours later, Kelly posts bail and is released from jail in Chicago.

— March 6, 2019: CBS airs an interview in which Kelly vehemently denies the sexual abuse charges. Cook County authorities take Kelly into custody after he tells a judge he can't pay $161,000 in child support.

— May 30, 2019: Kelly is charged with 11 new sex-related counts in Chicago. They involve one of the women who accuses him of sexually abusing her when she was underage.

— July 11, 2019: Kelly is indicted by a federal grand jury in Chicago on charges including child pornography, enticement of a minor and obstruction of justice. A separate indictment filed in the Eastern District of New York includes charges of racketeering, kidnapping, forced labor and the sexual exploitation of a child. He is again arrested in Chicago.

— July 16, 2019: A federal judge orders Kelly held without bond after a prosecutor warns he poses an extreme danger to young girls.

— Aug. 5, 2019: Kelly is charged in Minnesota with prostitution and solicitation related to an allegation that he invited a 17-year-old girl to his hotel room in 2001 and paid her $200 to dance naked with him.

— March 5, 2020: Kelly pleads not guilty in Chicago to an updated federal indictment that includes child pornography charges and allegations involving a new accuser.

— Aug. 12, 2020: Federal prosecutors announce charges against three men accused of threatening and intimidating women who have accused Kelly of abuse, including one man suspected of setting fire to a vehicle in Florida.

— Aug. 18, 2021: Opening statements begin in Kelly’s federal trial in New York.

— Sept. 27, 2021: A jury finds Kelly guilty of sex trafficking and violating the Mann Act, which makes it illegal to take anyone across state lines "for any immoral purpose."

— June 29, 2022: Kelly is sentenced to 30 years in prison in New York.

— Aug. 15, 2022: Jury selection starts for Kelly in federal court in Chicago on child pornography, enticement and obstruction of justice charges.

— Sept. 14, 2022: A federal jury convicts Kelly of three child pornography counts and three counts of child enticement. But the jury acquits him on a fourth pornography count, a conspiracy to obstruct justice charge related to his 2008 trial, three counts of conspiring to receive child pornography and two more enticement charges. His two co-defendants, business associates Derrel McDavid and Milton Brown, were found not guilty of charges against them.

— Feb. 23, 2023: Kelly is sentenced on child pornography and child enticement counts.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.