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A Chicago judge has reportedly orderedR. Kellyto be held in jail without bond on Tuesday.
According to theChicago Tribune, the singer is being held on federal charges alleging that he paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to recover tape recordings of himself having sex with minors, and also that he pressured witnesses to change their stories before testifying at the Cook County pornography trial that ended in an acquittal in 2008.Kelly pled not guilty to the charges.
U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber’s decision means that Kelly will remain in custody when he’s taken to New York City to face a separate indictment alleging the sexual abuse of underage girls.
According to theChicago Sun-Times, a federal prosecutor described Kelly, 52, as “an extreme danger to the community, especially to minor girls,” while an assistant U.S. attorney added that Kelly “has a unique ability to influence and intimidate witnesses and victims, and that continues to this day.”
Kelly’s lawyer, Steve Greenberg, however, denies that the star poses a flight risk. “Unlike his most famous song — ‘I Believe I Can Fly’ — Mr. Kelly doesn’t like to fly,” Greenberg said. “How could he flee? He has no money. There’s no evidence that he’s a risk to minors at all at this point.”
Neither Greenberg or the U.S. District Attorney’s office have responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The singer also facesa separate five-count indictmentfrom the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, which was unsealed on Friday. It includes charges of racketeering and violations of the Mann Act, which “prohibits transporting people across state lines for the purpose of prostitution,” theNew York Timesreported.
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In addition to this, prosecutors alleged Kelly and his team “paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to victims and witnesses” to ensure they would not cooperate with law enforcement, theAssociated Press reported. The Chicago indictment also accused Kelly of using physical abuse, violence and blackmail to “prevent victims from providing evidence to law enforcement.”
Kelly is expected to eventually be extradited to New York to face charges there.
source: people.com
