Following his conviction on racketeering charges, R. Kelly was placed on suicide watch for kidnapping and sexually exploiting multiple underage girls. According to the Chicago Tribune, Kelly’s lawyer Steve Greenberg revealed the news on Oct. 20 during a hearing.
The disgraced singer, 54, was convicted for having sex with minors, bribery, kidnapping and forced labor on Sept. 27. Prosecutors used the Mann Act to charge the singer.
The Mann Act is a federal law that makes it illegal to transport females for “prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose.” It is used to convict sex traffickers and pedophiles.
The bribery charge stemmed from 1994 when Kelly was accused of bribing an official to make a fake ID for the late singer Aaliyah when she was 15. Kelly, who was 27, wed the singer, but the marriage was later annulled.
All together, Kelly was convicted of 12 illegal acts and could receive a sentence of 10 years up to life in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for May. 4 in New York.
The “Bump N Grind” singer also faces federal child pornography and obstruction of justice charges in Chicago. An indictment filed in 2019 alleged that Kelly recorded himself on video having sex with three minors and paid to have copies of the tapes rounded up before they were found by the police.
One recording shows Kelly molesting his goddaughter, who was only 14. The singer went on trial for child pornography but was acquitted in 2008. The infamous recording also allegedly showed the singer urinating on the teenager.
According to Greenberg, the suicide watch has now been lifted. At the time of Kelly’s arrest, his lawyer said that he didn’t understand the charges.
“They’ve charged him in New York with enticing people and encouraging people to have sex with him. I don’t think people accidentally have sex so I’m not really sure what the criminal activity is here,” Greenberg said.
Kelly appeared via video at the hearing but wasn’t able to speak due to a technical issue. He is currently in a federal jail in Brooklyn, New York, and there was an issue with his mute button.
Kelly is scheduled to appear in a Chicago court next August.
