On Thursday, April 15th, a federal judge gave the green light to move embattled singer R. Kelly to New York City to go on trial this Summer.
To date, Kelly has been held in Chicago, where he’s facing a potential second trial this Fall in a federal case related to a sprawling sex crimes investigation. In another jurisdiction, Brooklyn federal court proceedings had been postponed due to the pandemic, however, during a recent virtual hearing, U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly told lawyers that enough courthouse protections in place that would allow the to move forward on August 9th and that the government should start preparations to transport Kelly to a New York jail.
Prosecutors in Brooklyn allege Kelly led an expansive enterprise involving those closest to him, including his managers, bodyguards and other employees, each of whom helped the singer/songwriter recruit women and girls for sex. A jury is expected to hear testimony from alleged victims, each identified in court papers as “Jane Doe.” Kelly has denied all sex trafficking allegations and on Thursday his attorney, Steve Greenberg, said that his client is looking forward to the trial.
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Photo: Nicholas Ballasy