R. Kelly’s sex-crime conviction and 20-year sentence in Chicago’s federal court will stand, an appeals court ruled Friday in a blistering opinion. “For years, Robert Sylvester Kelly abused underage girls.

A federal appeals court says singer R. Kelly was correctly sentenced to 20 years in prison on child sex convictions in Chicago

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has upheld the 20-year prison sentence of R&B singer R. Kelly, rejecting his appeal on the grounds that his convictions for child pornography and enticement of minors were correctly applied under current law.

R. Kelly’s hopes of a lighter sentence are just hopes now. A Chicago court has dismissed his appeal to review his 20-year sentence.

A federal appeals court rejected arguments from Kelly's attorneys that his indictment on child pornography and child enticement charges was filed after the statute of limitations had expired, and that his 20-year sentence was "unduly harsh.