R. Kelly's Emergency Prison Release Denied: Judge Lacks Authority
A Chicago federal judge has rejected R. Kelly’s emergency motion to serve his sentence at home, dismissing allegations of threats and misconduct by prison staff.
Chicago, IL – A federal judge has denied R. Kelly’s urgent request to be released from prison and placed under home confinement, stating she lacked jurisdiction over his current place of incarceration.
The disgraced R&B singer’s legal team had filed the motion citing grave safety threats, including alleged conspiracies by prison staff and fellow inmates to harm or kill him, and demanded immediate intervention.
Serious Allegations from R. Kelly’s Legal Team
Kelly’s lawyers alleged:
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Staff at Chicago’s Metropolitan Correctional Centre colluded with a former cellmate to steal his legal mail and leak it to prosecutors ahead of his trial.
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At FCI Butner in North Carolina, where Kelly is currently held, authorities tried to enlist a member of the Aryan Brotherhood to attack or kill him.
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Prison staff reportedly gave Kelly a dangerous overdose and forcibly removed him from the hospital against medical advice.
They even made a public appeal for President Donald Trump to intervene, claiming the singer's life was in danger.
Judge Denies Motion, Citing Lack of Jurisdiction
Judge Martha Pacold of the Northern District of Illinois ruled on Thursday that she has no authority over Kelly's case since he is now held in North Carolina.
“Kelly is in Butner, North Carolina,” she said. “This is outside my district.”
She also noted that the defense team failed to present valid legal grounds for her to override jurisdiction.
Prosecutors Dismiss Claims as “False and Offensive”
Federal prosecutors responded sharply, rejecting the accusations as baseless:
“Kelly refuses to admit he sexually abused children over the years and is just using the court for self-promotion. There is no legal reason for him to be here.”
R. Kelly’s Legal Woes Continue
R. Kelly, 58, was sentenced to 30 years in 2021 in New York for racketeering and sex trafficking. In 2022, he was convicted of child pornography charges in a separate trial in Chicago.
Most of his prison sentences are being served concurrently, with a projected release date of December 21, 2045.
The latest court ruling marks another legal setback for the former music icon, who continues to deny all allegations of abuse and misconduct.
