A New York judge has ruled that the Universal Music Group (UMG) must hand over more than half a million dollars in music royalties belonging to R&B singer R. Kelly to his sex abuse victims, reports the NY Post.
The decision by US District Judge Ann Donnelly follows Kelly’s conviction for sexually abusing women, underage girls, and boys over many years, resulting in a 30-year prison sentence. The order requires UMG, Kelly’s music publisher, to pay $520,549 to cover outstanding restitution and fines. The money must be delivered within 10 days, as stated in the court documents per The Post.
As a result of UMG’s agreement, prosecutors have announced that they will drop their attempt to seize over $1.5 million in royalties from Sony. However, the abuse victim involved in Kelly’s child pornography conviction in Chicago is seeking the $4 million in Sony royalties awarded to them. The ‘Bump n’ Grind’ singer still owes more than $42,000 in fines and restitution in that case.
Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, plans to appeal both of his convictions and will seek to have the payments returned to her client.
This ruling comes after Judge Donnelly previously ordered Kelly to surrender nearly $28,000 from his prison inmate account to compensate his victims. The defense had argued against this move, claiming that prosecutors had taken unprecedented actions by freezing all but $500 in Kelly’s account.
In addition to his New York conviction, Kelly was sentenced in February to 20 years in prison in a separate Chicago case. However, most of his time will be served concurrently with his 30-year sentence. Currently, Kelly is incarcerated at the Butner Federal Correctional Complex in North Carolina, having been transferred from a Chicago correctional center in April.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
