R. Kelly, Universal Music Group ordered to pay $507K in royalties for victims, judge says
A New York judge has ordered Universal Music Group to cover R. Kelly's outstanding restitution bill.
R. Kelly, who is currently serving 30 years for his 2021 racketeering and sex trafficking convictions in New York, was given a bill of over $520,000 plus interest in July 2022 to be paid to his victims.
U.S. District Judge Ann M. Donnelly filed an order of garnishment on Wednesday to R. Kelly and Universal Music Group to pay the court nearly $507,000 in payments being held by the label, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY. The payment is the remaining balance of his restitution bill as of Aug. 15.
Universal Music Group has 10 days from the receipt of the order of garnishment to pay R. Kelly's debt, according to the documents.
The documents also revealed the government has withdrawn a collection of payment against Sony Music Entertainment because the "Ignition" singer's royalties with Universal amount to over $567,0000, which is enough to pay his outstanding bill.
R. Kelly was found guilty of nine counts of sex trafficking and racketeering in September 2021 and sentenced in June 2022. At the time of sentencing, he was also ordered to pay a $100,000 fine.
R. Kelly sentenced to 20 yearsin child porn case, but total prison time only extended by 1 year
In February, the disgraced singer was sentenced to 20 years in prison on another set of sex crimes, including several child pornography charges, in Chicago.
U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber decided 19 of those years would be served concurrently with his existing prison time, meaning only one year gets added to the end of his previous 30-year sentence.
Kelly was found guilty in September on three counts of child pornography and three counts of child enticement but was acquitted of a fourth pornography count, as well as a conspiracy to obstruct justice charge accusing him of fixing his state child pornography trial in 2008.
Contributing: USA TODAY staff, Associated Press
R. Kelly sentenced to 30 yearsin prison after NY sex trafficking conviction