R. Kelly Transferred to Brooklyn Detention Center Ahead of Federal Trial

R. Kelly was transferred to the Brooklyn Detention Center from Chicago as he awaits the start of his federal trial.

The disgraced singer and accused sex trafficker’s trial is set to begin in August, NY Daily News reports. As a result, he was transferred from the federal jail in downtown Chicago that he’s been serving time since his 2019 arrest and sent to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

It was last week when the judge presiding over his NYC case said she wanted to question Kelly in person about a potential conflict of interest involving one of his lawyers, as noted by the Chicago Sun-Times. The singer had recently told the judge that he no longer wanted to move forward with his Chicago-based lawyers, Steve Greenberg and Michael Leonard.

He instead, wants to be repped by Thomas Farinella of New York and Nicole Blank Becker of Michigan. However, the judge wants to examine a potential conflict involving Becker.

Since his arrest, the “Ignition” singer has endured an attack from a fellow inmate and the COVID-19 pandemic all while awaiting trial in Chicago’s downtown Metropolitan Correctional Center. During the pandemic, Kelly’s attempts to be released from jail while awaiting trial were rejected.

Last August, Kelly was attacked by a gang member within the Latin Kings who said the motive behind the attack was “in hopes of getting spotlight attention and world news notice to shed light on”

In NYC, Kelly faces racketeering charges over claims he led an “enterprise” made up of his employees who allegedly helped him recruit women and underage girls for sex. The trial in that case is set to begin on Aug. 9. In Chicago, Kelly is facing charges related to child pornography and obstruction of justice, CNN reports. It alleges the singer beat his 2008 prosecution by using threats, gifts and six-figure payoffs to thwart the plaintiffs.