Singer R. Kelly alleges mistreatment after hospitalization and prison 'murder plot'
CHICAGO (AP) — R. Kelly collapsed in prison and was hospitalized, attorneys said in court filings this week, adding the details to the singer's extraordinary allegations of a murder plot by prison officials that he argues require temporary release on home detention. Government lawyers have dismissed the claims as a 'fanciful conspiracy."
Kelly, 58, is serving time at a Butner, North Carolina federal facility related to separate convictions for child sex crimes and racketeering.
In a series of filings that started last week, Kelly's attorneys claim prison officials sought out leaders of a white supremacist gang to kill him and prevent the release of damaging information on prison officials. After that filing, Kelly was moved to solitary confinement, his attorneys say. They also allege he was purposely given a medication overdose and required hospitalization and surgery for blood clots, but he was sent back to solitary.
'These people did overdose him. They did leave him with blood clots in his lungs and remove him from a hospital that sought to do surgery to remove them,' Kelly's attorney Beau B. Brindley wrote in a filing Tuesday. 'And they did it within days of his exposure of a plan to kill him set forth by Bureau of Prisons officials.'
Attorneys cite a declaration from a leader of the Aryan Brotherhood as among their evidence.
Government attorneys rejected the allegations as 'repugnant' and questioned whether a Chicago judge has jurisdiction to alter Kelly's sentence for separate convictions in Illinois and New York. Kelly has a Friday hearing at Chicago's federal court.
'Kelly has never taken responsibility for his years of sexually abusing children, and he probably never will,' government attorneys wrote. 'Undeterred, Kelly now asks this Court to release him from incarceration indefinitely under the guise of a fanciful conspiracy.'
The Bureau of Prisons declined to comment Tuesday, saying it does not discuss conditions of confinement or comment on pending legal matters.
The Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, was found guilty in Chicago in 2022 of three charges of producing child sexual abuse images and three charges of enticement of minors for sex. In 2021, he was found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking in New York. His attempts to appeal have been unsuccessful, including to the U.S. Supreme Court. Kelly has also sought President Donald Trump's help.
He is serving most of his 20-year Chicago sentence and 30-year New York sentence simultaneously.
Kelly is known for work including the 1996 hit 'I Believe I Can Fly' and the cult classic 'Trapped in the Closet,' a multipart tale of sexual betrayal and intrigue.
Kelly sold millions of albums and remained in demand even after allegations about his abuse of young girls began circulating publicly in the 1990s. A 2008 trial in Chicago on child sexual abuse image charges ended in acquittal.
Widespread outrage over Kelly's sexual misconduct did not emerge until the #MeToo reckoning, reaching a crescendo after the release of the documentary 'Surviving R. Kelly.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
14 minutes ago
- Washington Post
D.C. attorney general alleges violence intervention nonprofit misused funds
The District's attorney general has alleged that a nonprofit group hired by the city misappropriated funds that were supposed to go toward preventing gun violence in the Congress Heights neighborhood. In a lawsuit filed this week by D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb, the city is seeking to recoup more than $250,000 in government funds that went to Women in H.E.E.L.S. (Healing, Elevation, Empowerment, Love, Support) Inc. The group signed an agreement with the attorney general's office in March 2022 to operate one of four new violence-reduction program sites as part of the office's Cure the Streets program, according to the suit.
CBS News
19 minutes ago
- CBS News
Colorado's Empower Field at Mile High to take precautions for heat during The Weeknd concert
This Saturday, thousands of people are expected to attend The Weeknd concert at Empower Field at Mile High, and venue organizers are working to make sure the heat doesn't ruin the fun. The Weeknd is a popular Canadian singer and songwriter famous for hits such as "Blinding Lights," "Starboy" and "Die For You." His stop in Denver is part of the "After Hours Til Dawn Tour" with Playboi Carti. Officials expect there to be a large crowd and heavy traffic during the concert and are encouraging guests to arrive early. Lots will open at 3 p.m. The Weeknd performs onstage for "After Hours Til Dawn" 2025 Stadium Tour at State Farm Stadium on May 09, 2025, in Glendale, Arizona. Kevin Mazur via Getty Images for Live Nation The Denver metro area will be under a heat advisory Saturday, with temperatures possibly climbing into the triple digits. The heat advisory will go into effect at 11 a.m. and remain in place until 6 p.m. The stadium management company said there will be several precautions in place, including additional medical staff to help concert goers with heat related issues. Some areas around the stadium will be used as expanded medical treatment areas, and over 30 free water refilling stations will be positioned throughout the stadium. Organizers said there will also be water refilling stations outside the east and west areas of the stadiums for guests waiting to enter. Precautions will also be in place to protect staff from the heat, with additional break areas with hydration stations.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tim Daly's N.Y.C. Apartment in Photos
More from Robb Report 'Wings' Star Tim Daly's Upper West Side Pied-à-Terre Just Listed for $1.6 Million A 1,000-Acre Private Island Steeped in Scottish History Hits the Market for the First Time in 80 Years A Contemporary Artist's Serene Retreat in Bel Air Can Be Yours for $16.5 Million Best of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article. An entry foyer with four oversized closets opens to seventh-floor residence, which has two bedrooms and 1.5 baths in 1,300 square feet. North-facing windows in the living/dining room provides city views and plenty of natural light. Ten-foot ceilings and a white-painted wood floor add to the room's cloud-like airiness. A copper light fixture hangs over the dining table. The kitchen is outfitted with Viking and Fisher & Paykel appliances. A compact office space and a powder room are tucked behind the kitchen. The primary bedroom includes a large walk-in closet. The primary shares a simple bath with the secondary bedroom. The secondary bedroom comes with built-in shelving. The floor plan.
