R. Kelly Faces a New Round of Chicago Charges
The Grammy‑winning R. Kelly, already juggling legal battles in three states, is now on the docket again in Chicago—this time with a fresh indictment that ties a newly identified victim to the singer’s alleged misdeeds.
What the Chicago Court Did
The U.S. District Court in Chicago issued a superseding indictment that names the latest accuser simply as “Minor 6”. Police say this teenager was 14 or 15 back in the late 1990s, and the bill accuses Kelly (who’s 53) of “engaging in sexual acts” with her. The case also pushes for the forfeiture of assets tied to Kelly’s production company and an unrelated firm owned by his manager, Derrel McDavid, a co‑defendant in the same case.
Why “Minor 2” Dropped Out
Earlier in the indictment, a victim known as “Minor 2” was removed, though the court didn’t say why. “We’re aware of the superseding indictment,” defense lawyer Steve Greenberg told Twitter, pledging a continued fight and keeping the hashtag #notguilty#rkelly alive. Meanwhile, Vadim Glozman, McDavid’s attorney, was cool about it: “The superseding indictment was expected and does not change our position. We look forward to taking this matter to trial.”
Two‑Decade‑Old Allegations Re‑energized
Kelly hasn’t been spared from allegations dating back more than twenty years. A Lifetime documentary, Surviving R. Kelly, first aired in 2019, highlighted women’s claims of abuse, some of which now feed into the fresh charges. Besides the Chicago case, federal prosecutors in New York allege that the artist ran a criminal scheme recruiting underage girls and women for illicit encounters.
The Aaliyah Connection
In 1994, Kelly was accused of bribing an Illinois official to procure a forged ID for his then‑fifteen‑year‑old partner, the girl singer Aaliyah. Their marriage license listed her age as 18, a discrepancy that led to an annulment in 1995. Aaliyah’s untimely death at 22 in a 2001 plane crash left a legacy many still mourn.
Previous Legal Traces
- July 2023: Chicago prosecutors charged him for engaging in sex acts with five minors, allegedly recording some of the abuse on video and threatening victims to stay silent.
- February 2024: Illinois state prosecutors filed an aggravated sexual abuse complaint.
- August 2024: Minnesota prosecutors accused him of soliciting sex from a minor.
- 2008: Kelly was acquitted of state child‑pornography charges in Illinois.
Across the board, Kelly has pleaded not guilty to all charges in New York, Illinois, and Chicago. As the legal fireworks continue, one thing remains clear: the story of this once‑hit‑maker’s meteoric rise and bruising fall is far from over.
