R&B legend R Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for child sex abuse. The 55-year-old was convicted in 2021 on nine charges including racketeering. 

What is racketeering? 

The racketeering charge is connected to organized criminal activities involving several people. While it doesn’t refer to a single crime, the charge refers to the way of thinking as well as prosecuting a variety of crimes. 

In the United States, racketeering is used to define various offences under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO). It is defined in Section 1961 under the RICO chapter of Title 18 U.S.C.A. 1961. 

Also Read | A timeline of the allegations that led to R Kelly’s conviction

Racketeering involves kidnapping, robbery, and dealing in narcotic drugs. RICO forms Title IX of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 and was passed by Congress to eradicate organized crime in the US. 

As per the Department of Justice, the government must prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, while prosecuting a RICO case. 

Racketeering in R Kelly’s case

In July 2019 prosecutors alleged that R Kelly had engaged in “a racketeering enterprise that preyed upon women and girls who attended his concerts so that the victims could be available to engage in illegal sexual activity with him at a moment’s notice”. 

Kelly was found guilty of “racketeering and multiple predicate acts” in the 2021 trial. A statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York said that Kelly had, for almost 30 years, led a criminal enterprise including others who served as his bodyguards, managers, accountants, runners, drivers, and personal assistants. 

Also Read | R Kelly net worth: How singer convicted of child sex abuse lost his wealth

The statement noted that as the leader, “Kelly used his fame to recruit women and girls to engage in illegal sexual activity with him”, identifying girls and women at his concerts and directing those in his enterprise to escort them backstage. 

Also Read | How Stephen Breyer voted on Dobbs v Jackson: Abortion ruling explained

Kelly’s sexual partners had to follow the rules established by the artist, and he isolated them from friends and family to make them financially dependent on him, as per the statement, which also said Kelly required his victims to “engage in sex with him and others and recorded many of the sexual encounters”. 

Each count of racketeering is punishable with a 20-year prison sentence.