R. Kelly’s NYC sex racketeering trial bumped to April 2021 after many delays
R. Kelly will finally face a Brooklyn federal jury over his sex racketeering charges next April after numerous delays, a judge ordered Thursday.
The disgraced R&B singer’s trial in New York City has been pushed back for months. In February, a judge pushed his trial from April to July — and when the coronavirus pandemic hit, that July date was nixed as well.
Federal prosecutors then asked for a January trial date, but defense attorneys said they needed more time to prepare due to the pandemic.
Now lawyers on both sides have agreed to the April 7, 2021 date set by Brooklyn Federal Judge Ann Donnelly.
Kelly is charged in Brooklyn Federal Court for running an enterprise where women and girls were selected from the audience at his concerts and then recruited for sex.
He also is charged with having sexual activity with three girls under the age of 18 and making child pornography, as well as with knowingly transferring herpes to a groupie.
The “Igntion” singer is charged in Chicago Federal Court with having sex with minors and making chid porn.
He’s also charged in state court in Chicago for abusing minors and state court in Minnesota for engaging in prostitution with a minor.
Kelly is currently being held without bail at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago, where his lawyers claim he was assaulted by another inmate.
