R. Kelly’s attorney says they plan to appeal the 30-year sentence

Grammy award winning singer-songwriter R kelly was sentenced to over three decades in prison on Wednesday, June 29 after being convicted and found guilty of federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges. His lawyers have already announced plans to appeal the decision.

Jennifer Bonjean, an attorney for the disgraced R&B singer, claims her client was “overcharged,” citing the singer’s only charge of racketeering. Ahead of the sentencing, Bonjean told reporters at a news conference that they were “prepared” and that “we are now ready to fight this appeal.”

“We are pleased about this appeal that we are making. Obviously it was a tough day. He was sentenced to a heavy sentence, but we are confident in our arguments, presented in our post-trial motions, that while they failed to convince the circuit court judge, they will convince the Court of Appeals,” Bonjean later said in a explanation after the decision.

“We’ve always believed those arguments, and we believe that this company has been overcharged and that the appellate section of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals will see it that way,” she added.

Last September, a jury convicted the “Ignition” singer on nine counts, including one charge of racketeering and eight violations of the Mann Act, a sex trafficking statute. Prosecutors accused the Chicago native of using his celebrity status and a “network of people available to him to approach girls, boys and young women for his own sexual gratification.”

Authorities originally asked Chief US District Court Judge Ann Donnelly to sentence the 55-year-old star to more than 25 years, while his defense called for 10 or fewer, citing that more than 25 years “is equivalent to a life sentence.” imprisonment. ‘ reported CNN.

“While sex was certainly a weapon that you used, this is not about sex,” Judge Donnelly said after the ruling. “It’s about violence, cruelty and control. You left a trail of broken lives in your wake.”

Donnelly said she also reflects on the star’s own traumatic childhood. During the trial, Kelly’s attorneys said the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was repeatedly sexually assaulted by a family member and a landlord.

In her statement, the judge said the singer’s experience “could explain, at least in part, what led to her behavior. That’s definitely not an excuse.”

Jovante Cunningham, a former Kelly backup singer, welcomed the conviction and told reporters outside the courthouse: “I started this journey 30 years ago. Up until that moment, there wasn’t a day in my life that I really believed that the justice system for black and brown girls would prevail.”

She added: “I stand here very proud of my justice system, very proud of my fellow survivors and very pleased with the outcome.”