Among the most serious charges facing the Grammy Award winner at his federal trial is a conspiracy to obstruct justice by rigging the 2008 trial, which included paying off and threatening the girl to ensure she did not testify.
The testimony of the woman, now in her 30s and referred to only as “Minor 1” in court filings, will be crucial. Kelly is also charged with four counts of enticing minors for sex — one count for each of the four other accusers. All are expected to testify.
Even a single conviction in Chicago could add decades to Kelly’s sentence in New York, which he is appealing. Kelly will be around 80 before being eligible for early release under the New York sentence alone.
Kelly arrives in Chicago federal court having already been sentenced to 30 years in prison by a New York federal judge for a 2021 conviction on charges that he used his celebrity to sexually abuse other young fans.
Kelly faces federal charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and enticement of minors for sex. He is accused of rigging his New York trial by paying off and threatening a teenage girl. The Chicago case could add decades to Kelly’s already long prison sentence.
