A federal judge has denied convicted sex offender R. Kelly’s request for release from prison, rejecting his claims that federal officials were plotting to kill him.
U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold issued a five-page ruling that canceled a scheduled hearing, stating her court lacked the legal authority, or jurisdiction, to consider the singer’s emergency request for a temporary furlough or home detention.
Kelly, 58, who is serving sentences at a federal correctional facility in Butner, North Carolina, had filed a series of documents this month alleging extraordinary circumstances required his immediate release.
Claims of a Prison Murder Plot
In his filings, R. Kelly claimed federal prison officials had solicited white supremacist leaders, including a specific Aryan Brotherhood member identified as Mikeal Glenn Stine, to murder him. He alleged this plot was intended to prevent him from disclosing information potentially damaging to officials. Kelly’s attorney stated that Stine allegedly told the singer his life was “absolutely in danger.”
Kelly’s claims also extended to alleged medical mistreatment. According to his legal team, following his allegations of a plot, he was moved to solitary confinement. He then woke up on June 13 experiencing vision issues, fell, lost consciousness, and was taken to Duke University Hospital. He claimed prison staff had intentionally administered an “overdose quantity” of medication the day prior. Kelly was reportedly scheduled for surgery for blood clots requiring a longer hospital stay, but was allegedly removed early from the hospital by armed officers at the direction of FCI Butner officials.
Judge Cites Lack of Jurisdiction
Judge Pacold’s ruling pointed out that federal courts have limited power in such matters. She specifically noted that Kelly’s request was filed in a judicial district different from where he is incarcerated (North Carolina) and that he failed to demonstrate a legal basis for her court’s jurisdiction over his claims or the requested relief.
“Jurisdictional limitations must be respected even where, as here, a litigant claims that the circumstances are extraordinary,” Judge Pacold wrote, adding that Kelly did not identify any statute or rule authorizing the court to exercise jurisdiction.
Furthermore, the judge noted that Kelly provided no evidence to support his serious allegations of a murder plot or intentional overdose. Government lawyers responded to Kelly’s filings by calling his claims a “fanciful conspiracy.” They argued that Kelly was using the court’s docket for self-promotion and refusing to accept responsibility for his crimes.
Kelly’s attorney, Beau Brindley, reportedly commented that while they were “not surprised by this ruling as we knew that technical jurisdiction would be a challenge,” they felt they “had no choice but to act immediately given explicit evidence of a threat to Robert Kelly’s life.”
Background on Convictions
Born Robert Sylvester Kelly, the Grammy-winning R&B artist is currently serving significant prison time for multiple convictions. In 2021, he was found guilty in New York on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges, receiving a 30-year sentence. In 2022, he was convicted in Chicago on three counts of producing child sexual abuse images and three counts of enticement of minors for sex, resulting in a 20-year sentence. He is serving most of his sentences concurrently.
Kelly’s appeals against his convictions have been unsuccessful, including an attempt before the U.S. Supreme Court. He has also previously sought intervention from former President Donald Trump.
