Over $500,000 USD in royalties from R. Kelly's music held by Universal Music Group (UMG) must be surrendered and put toward paying his victims, a judge ruled [via Billboard].
The disgraced R&B singer was found guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering nearly two years ago, then sentenced to 30 years in prison — with an additional year added to the sentence for child pornography earlier this year.
Now, Judge Ann Donnelly has signed a writ of garnishment demanding UMG shell out $520,549 in Kelly's publishing royalties to Brooklyn prosecutors to pay criminal fines and restitution.
Prosecutors had moved to seize royalties from both UMG and Sony, the artist's former label. However, they dropped their request to tap into Sony's account when UMG's held enough to cover the entire penalty.
As of 2020, Sony held more than $1.5 million in Kelly's royalties. The label is still facing other demands to access those funds from an abuse victim who won a $4 million civil judgment, as well as a Chicago landlord who is reportedly owed $3.5 million.
The disgraced R&B singer was found guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering nearly two years ago, then sentenced to 30 years in prison — with an additional year added to the sentence for child pornography earlier this year.
Now, Judge Ann Donnelly has signed a writ of garnishment demanding UMG shell out $520,549 in Kelly's publishing royalties to Brooklyn prosecutors to pay criminal fines and restitution.
Prosecutors had moved to seize royalties from both UMG and Sony, the artist's former label. However, they dropped their request to tap into Sony's account when UMG's held enough to cover the entire penalty.
As of 2020, Sony held more than $1.5 million in Kelly's royalties. The label is still facing other demands to access those funds from an abuse victim who won a $4 million civil judgment, as well as a Chicago landlord who is reportedly owed $3.5 million.
