music / News

R. Kelly Moved to Brooklyn Jail Ahead of August Federal Trial

June 23, 2021 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas

R. Kelly is no longer in Chicago, having been moved to a jail in New York ahead of his trial later this summer on federal charges of sex trafficking and more. CNN reports that according to two sources familiar with the situation, the disgraced R&B singer was brought to Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday and will likely stay there until his trial begins in August.

Kelly was indicted in 2019 on a host of charges in both Chicago and New York, including federal charges for racketeering, sex trafficking and obstruction. CCN reports that a US District Judge asked in a June 17th hearing for Kelly to be moved to New York so that she can have an in-person hearing with the singer about his attorneys. Kelly has been appearing via video conferences during the pandemic.

Kelly’s legal team has been undergoing some turmoil, with two of his Chicago-based attorneys, Steve Greenberg and Michael Leonard asking to withdraw from the case. The remaining two lawyers said that Kelly had actually fired Greenberg and Leonard. The hearing is intended to address allegations that one of his remaining lawyers, Nicole Blank Becker, had interactions with some witnesses who may be asked to testify, which Becker has denied. Kelly has added a new lawyer in New York attorney Deveraux Cannick, while the court appointed another to temporarily give Kelly independent legal counsel during the conflict hearing.

article topics :

R. Kelly, Jeremy Thomas