R. Kelly, the former lead singer of "I believe I can fly", was sentenced to 30 years in prison for
luring women and minors for sexual purposes
.
Fox news reports.
The prosecutor had asked that he be sentenced to "over 25 years of imprisonment".
The sentence closes the trial of Kelly who was found guilty of soliciting women and minors last September.
Kelly is 55 years old.
His new team of defenders - the same one that managed to free comedian Bill Cosby after a conviction for sexual harassment - had tried to obtain a milder sentence by invoking
the abuses that the same singer also suffered in the family
during the 'childhood.
R. Kelly
Several victims, including some who testified last year, went to the courtroom to describe the impact Kelly's actions have had on their lives.
R. Kelly was "a
Pied Piper
who lured minors with his money and his celebrity," the first victim who testified told the Brooklyn court.
"With each new victim added you grew into wickedness," said the woman, looking Kelly in her eyes. "You used fame and power to raise underage girls and boys and enslave them to your sexual gratification."