NEW YORK (Reuters) – R. Kelly was convicted by a federal jury on Monday of racketeering in his sex trafficking trial, where prosecutors accused the R&B singer of exploiting his stardom over a quarter-century to lure women and underage girls into his orbit for sex.

Kelly, 54 years old, is well-known for his Grammy-winning song “I Believe I Can Fly” and eight other counts that violated a federal law prohibiting the transport of people across state boundaries for prostitution.

Kelly was portrayed by the prosecution as a predator, who used his charisma and fame to attract women and girls under age to his circle. He then made his victims suffer violent sexual and physical abuses, which some of them recorded.

Kelly’s lawyers argued that Kelly had been generous to those who were around him and claimed his accusers are lying liars seeking out a payoff through book contracts, the media or other means after they have lost their romantic relationships or failed to achieve their music career goals.

On Friday, the five-woman and seven-man juries began deliberations. August 18 was the start of the trial.