R. Kelly charged with sexual abuse
DHS is involved in an investigation of R. Kelly, too
Homeland Security Investigations is involved in an investigation of R. Kelly, an ICE official confirms to CNN.
The official did not provide any additional details.
The news of DHS's involvement was first reported by the New Yorker.
She produced "Surviving R. Kelly" and says it's time for him to "finally pay for the harm he's caused"
Dream Hampton, the executive producer of Lifetime's "Surviving R. Kelly" just released a statement about the charges against the singer.
“R Kelly’s predation has been an open secret for almost two decades. It’s time for him to finally pay for the harm he’s caused, the black girls lives he’s ruined," Dream Hampton said.
Kelly could face up to 70 years in prison if convicted
R. Kelly has been charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx announced earlier today.
Aggravated criminal sexual abuse is a class two felony with a sentencing range of three to seven years in prison per count.
That means Kelly, if convicted, could face a maximum of up to 70 years.
She says R. Kelly's accusers were ignored because they're black
Though R. Kelly has faced allegations of sexual misconduct and assault for the past 20 years, he has yet to face serious consequences. Most previous cases were settled out of court, and he was acquitted in 2008 of the only case that went to trial.
"You know, I stand firmly in the belief that we're only now hearing this because these were black girls, that he was not tried or successfully prosecuted in the past because these were young, black girls," said Jamilah Lemieux, a former senior editor at Ebony magazine who was interviewed in the "Surviving R. Kelly" docuseries.
"These were not black girls typically of means. These weren't celebrities with the exception of Aaliyah. These were regular, working-class girls from places like the south side of Chicago."
We don't know much about the victims listed in the indictment. Three were under the age of 17 at the time of the alleged assaults, with the fourth victim's age unspecified.
However, R. Kelly has been accused of preying on young, black girls in the past.
Here's a breakdown of the charges against R. Kelly
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx outlined the 10 charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against R. Kelly. She said the charges involve four victims.
Here's how Foxx broke it down:
- The first victim, initials H.W., was involved in incidents which occurred between May 26, 1998, and May 25, 1999. A grand jury returned an indictment on four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse based on the victim being under the age of 17, and Kelly being more than five years older than the victim.
- The second victim, initials R.L., was involved in an incident which occurred between Sept. 26, 1998, and Sept. 25, 2001. A grand jury returned an indictment on two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse based on the victim being under the age of 17, and Kelly being more than five years older than that victim.
- The third victim, initials L.C., was involved in an incident which occurred Feb. 18, 2003. A grand jury returned an indictment on one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse based on the transmission of semen by Kelly upon any part of the body of the victim for the purposes of sexual gratification during the course of an underlying felony of attempted criminal sexual assault.
- The fourth victim, initials J.P., was involved in incidents which occurred between May 1, 2009, and Jan. 31, 2010. The grand jury returned an indictment on three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse based on the victim being under the age of 17 and Kelly being more than five years older than the victim.
R. Kelly charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse
R. Kelly has been charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving four victims, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx announced.
Watch below:
R. Kelly's bond hearing is tomorrow
A spokesperson from the Cook County State's Attorney's office says a bond hearing will be held for R. Kelly in Chicago tomorrow between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. CT.