As we previously reported, R. Kelly was arrested Thursday night in Chicago on 13 new federal charges which include obstruction of justice and child pornography. Now, as Kelly is awaiting extradition to New York, we’re learning more about these latest string of charges.
The two separate indictments in Chicago and New York are the latest blows to R. Kelly’s legacy following the Lifetime documentary “Surviving R Kelly.” The Chicago indictment claims Kelly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to recover child pornography videos and that he pressed witnesses to change their stories before his2008 pornography trial.
In the newly unsealed New York indictment, Kelly is accused of racketeering conspiracy in which he and former employees/associates recruited unaged girls and women for illegal sexual contact with the “Ignition” singer. Allegedly, these women and girls were kept isolated and threatened to stay under his control. Kelly has also been charged with four counts of violating the Mann Act. The Mann Act forbids the transportation of a minor across state lines for the purpose of sex.
“As alleged, R. Kelly, together with employees and members of his entourage, engaged in a racketeering enterprise that preyed upon women and girls who attended his concerts so that the victims could be available to engage in illegal sexual activity with him at a moment’s notice,” says United States Attorney Donoghue. “Today that comes to an end. This indictment makes clear that fame and power will not shield anyone from prosecution, particularly predators who victimize vulnerable members of our communities for their own sexual gratification.”
According to TMZ, the federal investigation Northern District of Illinois uncovered over 20 videos of Kelly engaging in sexual acts with minors. Allegedly, the videos feature multiple victims with witnesses testifying that the victims were underage. The alleged witnesses are believed to be former and current employees of Kelly’s. Reportedly, the tapes helped investigators secure the indictments.
Kelly is expected to remain in a Cook County jail at least until Tuesday when he appears in court for an arraignment and a possible bail hearing. According to reports, prosecutors will request that Kelly stays in custody throughout the federal trials due to being a flight risk and his alleged “psychological abuse and control of the young girls, who are now adults, is real and ongoing.”
Meanwhile, the parents of one of Kelly’s “girlfriends,” Joycelyn Savage, are currently looking for answers about their daughter’s whereabouts following the singer’s arrest.
During a press conference held by Kelly’s publicist Darrell Johnson, Savage’s father, Timothy Savage, interrupted the conference to ask about Joycelyn’s location. “I don’t wanna hear all that,” he shouted. “I wanna know where my daughter’s at! Answer that question!” He was pulled away by authorities while Johnson ignored the question and continued reading a statement about Kelly’s recent arrest.