R. Kelly will remain behind bars after a federal appeals court upheld the disgraced R&B singer’s racketeering and sex trafficking convictions, along with his 30-year prison sentence. 

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled on Wednesday (Feb 12) after hearing arguments last March, shutting down Kelly’s attempts to overturn his 2021 conviction in Brooklyn federal court. 

The Grammy-winning star was convicted in 2021 in Brooklyn federal court of multiple charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking.

This week, a three-judge panel didn’t buy Kelly’s arguments that his trial was unfair due to biased jurors, improper rulings, or an overreach of racketeering laws. Instead, they doubled down on the severity of his crimes, stating, “Enabled by a constellation of managers, assistants, and other staff for over twenty-five years, Kelly exploited his fame to lure girls and young women into his grasp.”

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The court further highlighted how Kelly’s inner circle helped him access underage victims and maintain control over them. “Evidence at trial showed that he would isolate them from friends and family, control nearly every aspect of their lives, and abuse them verbally, physically, and sexually,” the judges wrote.

However, Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, isn’t backing down just yet. In a statement, she called the ruling “unprecedented,” claiming that the decision gives prosecutors “limitless discretion” to apply racketeering laws to cases that don’t align with their original intent. 

Now, with multiple convictions across different cases and little hope for reversal, the Grammy-winning singer will remain behind bars as his legal team continues to push back against the charges.