R.Kelly's $500K Royalties Held By UMG Must Be Paid To His Victims, Judge Rules

August 24, 2023

More than $500,000 in R. Kelly’s royalties held by Universal Music Group must be handed over to Brooklyn federal prosecutors to help pay his victims, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Two years after a jury convicted the singer of sex trafficking and racketeering – and a year after she sentenced him to 30 years in prison — Judge Ann Donnelly signed a so-called writ of garnishment directing UMG to hand over $520,549 in his publishing royalties to pay restitution and criminal fines.

That doesn’t mean Sony will be keeping Kelly’s funds, though. The label, which held more than $1.5 million in Kelly royalties as of 2020, is facing other demands to access that money– to an abuse victim who won a $4 million civil judgment, as well as a Chicago landlord that’s owed $3.5 million.

Federal prosecutors in Chicago, who won a separate conviction against Kelly on child ****ography charges, could also seek to collect money, either from Sony or from the remaining funds in UMG’s account. Kelly owes more than $42,000 in fines and restitution in that case.

A spokesman for UMG declined to comment. A spokesman for Sony did not return a request for comment. In a statement to Billboard, Jennifer Bonjean – Kelly’s attorney, who is currently appealing his convictions – vowed that the royalty money would eventually be returned to her client.

https://www.billboard.com/business/legal/r-kelly-music-royalties-umg-must-go-to-sex-abuse-victims-1235399805/amp/