A federal judge has denied R. Kelly’s motion to be released from prison and placed on home confinement, despite explosive allegations of an attempted assassination plot and mistreatment by prison officials. U.S. District Court Judge Martha Pacold ruled that she lacks jurisdiction over the matter, effectively dismissing the request filed by the embattled R&B singer’s legal team.
Kelly, currently serving a 30-year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institute in Butner, North Carolina, was convicted in 2021 of racketeering and sex trafficking charges stemming from a decades-long history of abuse. His attorneys claim that his life is in serious danger behind bars, citing recent incidents that include an alleged assassination attempt by another inmate and a reported overdose allegedly caused by prison officials.
According to court filings, the inmate, Mikeal Glenn Stine—who is terminally ill—was allegedly offered freedom in exchange for killing Kelly while both were detained at a federal prison in Tucson, Arizona. Kelly’s legal team also claims he was hospitalized after being given an overdose of medication by prison staff, only to be returned to solitary confinement against medical advice.
Prosecutors have strongly refuted the claims, labeling them “deeply unserious,” “theatrical,” and “repugnant” in response filings. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on the specifics, citing policy on confidential inmate conditions and ongoing litigation.
In a separate media statement, Kelly’s attorney revealed ongoing efforts to seek a presidential pardon, maintaining that the singer’s life is at risk. Despite the dramatic court filings and pleas, the judge’s decision signals no immediate legal relief for the disgraced artist.
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