R. Kelly and Universal Music Group have been ordered to pay more than $500,000 (approx. $780,000 AUD) in music royalties to victims of the disgraced star.
The money is to be sent to Brooklyn federal prosecutors to help pay for his victim’s restitution and criminal fines.
On August 23, U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly signed an order directing the R&B star’s long time music publisher to turn over the payment to cover the fines R. Kelly still owes, per Bloomberg Law.
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The same judge previously ordered Kelly to surrender almost $28,000 (approx. $43,000 AUD) in his prison inmate account to cover his unpaid fines.
The R&B star is currently serving 30 years in prison for using his superstardom to subject young fans – some just children – to systematic sexual abuse.
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The singer and songwriter, 55, was convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking in 2021 at a trial that gave voice to accusers who had once wondered if their stories were being ignored because they were Black women.
Outrage over Kelly’s sexual misconduct with young women and children was fuelled in part by the widely watched docuseries Surviving R. Kelly.
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US District Judge Ann Donnelly imposed the 30-year sentence after hearing from several survivors who attested to how Kelly’s exploitation reverberated across their lives.
As part of his sentencing, Kelly, UMG and Sony Music Entertainment were collectively ordered to turn over the half-million dollar bill to be paid to Kelly’s sexual abuse victims.
According to court documents at the time, both record labels were believed to be “in possession of property” belonging to Kelly that amounted to the $504,289 bill that he currently owes in restitution fees and criminal fines.
This latest ruling, however, states that the entire bill will be footed by Universal, with R. Kelly’s royalties under the label enough to cover the fees.
Court documents reportedly note a 10 day deadline for Universal Music Group to transfer the money.