R. Kelly Arrested on Federal Sex Trafficking Charges – Update

R. Kelly Performs on stage at the FOX Theater on December 27, 2016 in Atlanta Georgia. (Credit: Shutterstock)

Update: Federal prosecutors announced Friday, July 12, that R. Kelly has been indicted in New York on kidnapping, racketeering, forced labor and child sex charges.

The five-count superseding indictment was filed in Brooklyn on July 10, and alleges the singer enlisted members of his entourage, including “managers, bodyguards, drivers, personal assistants and runners,” in order to “recruit women and girls to engage in illegal sexual activity.” The indictment described the group’s activities as an “enterprise.” It also accuses Kelly of producing child pornography and hiding the fact that he had a sexually-transmitted disease.

[read the indictment here]

Previously on July 11, 2019:
R. Kelly  was arrested in Chicago on federal sex trafficking charges Thursday night.

The R&B singer was taken into custody by federal agents and members of the NYPD Public Safety Task Force, NBC Chicago reported.

The 13-count indictment includes child pornography, enticement of a minor and obstruction of justice. It was handed down in federal court for the Northern District of Illinois.

The Grammy winner will was apprehended while walking his dog. He is being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago, according to the Federal Prisons Bureau website.

Steve Greenberg, an attorney for Kelly confirmed Thursday’s arrest.

“The conduct alleged appears to largely be the same as the conduct previously alleged against Mr. Kelly in his current State indictment and his former State charges that he was acquitted of,” Greenberg said. “Most, if not all of the conduct alleged, is decades old.”

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This case is the latest legal setback for the embattled singer.

In February, he was arrested in Chicago and charged by Cook County prosecutors with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse. Among the allegations, the singer-songwriter was accused of sexually abusing four females dating back to 1998, including three underage girls.

The 52-year-old performer pleaded not guilty and was released after posting bail.

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Then in May, prosecutors in Chicago charged the singer with 11 additional sex-related counts involving one of the women who accused him earlier this year of sexually abusing her when she was underage.

According to the 11-count indictment, the charges include: Four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, two counts of criminal sexual assault by force, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against a victim who was at least age 13 and under 17 at the time.

The “Ignition” singer pleaded not guilty to those charges as well, and vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Kelly was tried and acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008.