US singer R Kelly has been found guilty of running a scheme to exploit his fame to sexually abuse women and children over two decades.
Eleven accusers, nine women and two men, took the stand over the searing six-week trial to describe sexual humiliation and violence at his hands.
After two days of deliberation, the jury found Kelly guilty on all the charges he was facing.
Sentencing is due on 4 May. He could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was found guilty of using his fame and fortune to lure in victims with promises to help their musical careers. Several of his victims testified that they were underage when he sexually abused them.
Kelly - famous for award-winning song I Believe I Can Fly - was also found guilty of violating the Mann act, a federal law which bans sex trafficking across state lines.
Unlike the convictions of other celebrities like comedian Bill Cosby and film producer Harvey Weinstein, most of the victims who helped convict Kelly were black.
As the verdict was read out in court, Kelly sat still at his desk, according to reporters.
His facial expression was hidden by a face mask that he was required to wear due to the judge's pandemic rules.
One woman who testified that Kelly imprisoned, drugged and raped her said in a written statement after the verdict that she had "been hiding" from Kelly "due to threats made against me" since she went public with her accusations.
[Source: BBC]
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