R. Kelly Racketeer Case Is Just ‘Groupie’s Remorse,’ Lawyer Says
R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty to Racketeering Charges in Brooklyn
(Bloomberg) -- R. Kelly, the Grammy-winning R&B artist facing multiple prosecutions for alleged abuse of teen girls, pleaded not guilty Friday to a sweeping federal indictment in New York accusing him of running his business as a racketeering enterprise that kidnapped and transported the children across state lines for sex.
The singer was charged last month in a federal indictment in Chicago as well as the one in Brooklyn, New York. He’s accused of coercing at least 13 girls and women into sexual encounters over more than two decades in New York, Connecticut, Illinois and California. In February, Kelly was charged in Illinois state court with sexually abusing multiple minors.
The Brooklyn case involves government claims Kelly led a criminal enterprise that included his managers, bodyguards and personal assistants, and used his fame to lure and prey on girls and women. If convicted of racketeering, Kelly faces as long as 20 years in prison. He was also charged with four counts of violating the Mann Act for allegedly transporting minors across state lines to engage in illegal sexual activity.
Kelly will fight the “absurdity” of government allegations that he used his concerts to lure victims into his sphere or led a racketeering enterprise, his lawyer Douglas Anton said in a July 30 letter to the court. Kelly is a “superstar singer,” and the five women who claim they were victims of his abuse were “dying to be with him,” Anton said.
One of them, he said, was an adult fan “trying to get with him” and then “seeking millions of dollars” as a payoff.
Federal prosecutors in Chicago allege Kelly produced child pornography by videotaping multiple sexual encounters with five minors and using threats and bribes to keep the evidence from being disclosed, including during a 2008 state trial on similar charges that resulted in his acquittal.
On July 16, a federal judge denied Kelly’s request to be freed on bond, concluding he posed a danger to the community and was a flight risk. Kelly, who has pleaded not guilty in both Illinois cases, remained in federal custody and was transported to New York to face charges there.
In Brooklyn, the government argued Kelly poses a flight risk and is a danger to others. There’s also a “serious risk” he could obstruct justice, lead prosecutor Elizabeth Geddes said. During his 2008 trail in Chicago, Kelly told witnesses they could be subject to “physical harm” if they testified against him, Geddes said. Anton said the government’s obstruction claims were “nothing but allegations.”
Magistrate Judge Steven Tiscione denied Kelly’s bail request, saying he was “extremely troubled by potential issues of obstruction in past cases.” Kelly “has a significant incentive to flee” and can’t be trusted to comply with the conditions of his release, Tiscione said.
Kelly, dressed in navy blue prison fatigues, looked down for most of the hearing.
‘Groupie’s Remorse’
Outside the courthouse, Anton said the alleged victims had “groupie’s remorse.”
“They are groupies, there’s no way around it,” he said. He added that Kelly is “irritated” at behind bars, saying, “Imagine that you’re an innocent person and you’re locked up in prison.”
Gloria Allred, who is representing three of the five, was in court for the arraignment. She called Anton’s descriptions of the accusers inappropriate and inaccurate and said Kelly took advantage of his wealth and power to prey on girls who trusted him.
“They are brave victims seeking justice,” Allred said. “No amount of name-calling or mischaracterization will deter my clients from testifying.”
Among supporters of Kelly gathered outside the courthouse was one wearing a shirt reading “Free R. Kelly” on the front and “Unmute R. Kelly” on the back.
The next hearing will be Oct. 2. Kelly waived his right to an appearance. Anton said he’ll be asking the court to reconsider his client’s bail request.
To contact the reporters on this story: Patricia Hurtado in Federal Court in Manhattan at pathurtado@bloomberg.net;Gerald Porter Jr. in New York at gporter30@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: David Glovin at dglovin@bloomberg.net, Peter Jeffrey
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