Title: R. Kelly and Universal Music Group Ordered to Pay Over $500k in Music Royalties to Sexual Abuse Victims
In a significant development, a New York judge has ruled that renowned singer R. Kelly, along with Universal Music Group, must pay more than $500,000 in music royalties to his sexual abuse victims. The order, delivered by Judge Ann Donnelly of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, explicitly states that Universal is required to turn over funds equaling Kelly’s debt of $507,234.05.
According to the court order, Universal Music Group currently possesses a minimum of $567,444.19 in the form of the singer’s music publishing royalties. This sum will now be handed over to Brooklyn federal prosecutors, who will allocate it towards restitution and criminal fines owed to Kelly’s victims.
Kelly, whose birth name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, is presently serving a 30-year prison sentence after being found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking. As part of his sentencing, Kelly, Universal, and Sony Music Entertainment were all instructed to pay his substantial half-million dollar debt.
Remarkably, the prosecutors have revealed that Sony Music Entertainment is no longer accountable for the payment, as Kelly’s royalties with Universal will fully cover it. However, Universal Music Group has yet to respond to requests for comment concerning this ruling.
The September 2021 conviction against Kelly saw him being found guilty on nine counts of sex trafficking and racketeering. Prosecutors portrayed him as a serial sexual predator, stating that he had preyed on young women, as well as underage boys and girls, for over two decades. These grave crimes were exposed in the Lifetime documentary series “Surviving R. Kelly.”
In addition to his New York conviction, Kelly also faced charges in Chicago, where he was sentenced to a 20-year prison term for other sex crime offenses. Furthermore, there were pending charges in Minnesota related to alleged misconduct with a 17-year-old girl, but these were subsequently dismissed by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
As developments continue to unfold, it remains to be seen how this landmark ruling will impact the ongoing legal battle surrounding R. Kelly and his victims.
