R. Kelly’s racketeering and sex trafficking convictions, along with a 30-year prison sentence, were upheld Wednesday by a federal appeals court that concluded the singer exploited his fame for over a quarter century to sexually abuse girls and young women.

R. Kelly's 30-year prison sentence for sex trafficking and racketeering has been upheld by a federal appeals court in New York. On Wednesday, the court ruled that the arguments in Kelly's appeal "are without merit."

R. Kelly’s convictions for racketeering and sex trafficking, along with his 30-year prison sentence, were upheld on Wednesday by a federal appeals court, which ruled that the American singer exploited his fame for over a quarter of a century to sexually abuse girls and young women.