Rapper R. Kelly has requested to be placed under house arrest due to concerns for his safety, following allegations of a murder conspiracy involving his fellow inmates.
Currently serving a 31-year sentence for child sexual abuse, the artist known for “I Believe I Can Fly” is seeking release from federal custody, claiming that his life is at risk.
On Tuesday, his legal team submitted an emergency motion in federal court, alleging that three officials from the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) conspired to have him killed by other inmates.
The motion included statements from inmate Mikile Glenn Stein, who claims he was instructed to orchestrate murder plots during their time at a prison in Tucson, Arizona. Stein contended that his connections to the Aryan Brotherhood, a neo-Nazi gang, allowed him to dictate violent actions among its members.
He further alleged that a former BOP official had directed these plots against inmates, specifying that he had been coerced into executing a murder scheme against Kelly before being placed in proximity to him.
Stein stated that if he had succeeded in carrying out the murder, he would have been granted a chance to escape and live freely, a prospect that was appealing due to his terminal cancer diagnosis.
However, he claims he chose not to follow through and instead informed Kelly about the purported conspiracy, emphasizing that there were attempts made on Kelly’s life by high-ranking officials.
In a press conference, Kelly’s representative criticized the validity of these conspiracy claims, suggesting they were initiated and encouraged by government prosecutors and BOP officials rather than by Kelly himself.
In light of these claims, his lawyer announced plans to seek assistance from former President Trump, asserting that Stein is willing to take a lie detector test and provide names of other involved inmates.
They argue that R. Kelly’s continued confinement under these threats constitutes an inhumane punishment. The lawyer stated that it’s crucial to recognize the severity of Kelly’s situation, insisting he isn’t safe and that detaining him under such conditions is excessively harsh.
In a previous legal battle, R. Kelly was acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008, yet he was arrested again in 2019 on federal charges.
In 2021, he was convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking and sentenced to 30 years in prison. The subsequent year, he faced additional charges in Chicago and received another 20-year sentence for multiple child pornography counts.
