R. Kelly, the 52-year-old R&B singer, was arrested Thursday on child pornography and other charges in Chicago and is expected to be brought to New York, according to reports.
Kelly was arrested on a 13-count federal indictment, which included child pornography, enticement of a minor and obstruction of justice charges, Joseph D. Fitzpatrick, an assistant United States attorney in the Northern District of Illinois, told the New York Times.
New York’s WNBC-TV, which broke the story that Kelly was arrested, cited two law enforcement sources. The station reported that more details on the federal charges are expected Friday. Kelly was reportedly arrested by New York Police Department detectives and Department of Homeland Security agents.
Kelly has for decades been the subject of sexual abuse allegations — some involving minors.
The R&B singer was acquitted in 2008 of child pornography charges stemming from a videotape that allegedly showed Kelly engaging in sex acts with a 13-year-old girl.
Kelly was charged in February with 10 state counts of sexual abuse involving four victims, including three minors. He pleaded not guilty and was released from Chicago’s Cook County Jail after posting bail. More charges were filed against him in May.
