R&B singer R Kelly has been arrested on sex trafficking charges, according to American law officials.
The 52-year old was arrested in Chicago on Thursday night on 13 federal sex crime charges, and was expected to be taken to New York, according to officials.
US attorney spokesman Joseph Fitzpatrick said that the indictment against Kelly handed down in federal court for the northern district of Illinois also contained charges that revolve around child pornography and obstruction of justice.
“The counts include child porn, enticement of a minor and obstruction of justice,” Fitzpatrick said, adding that further details would be released later Friday.
The arrest was the second time this year that Kelly has been taken into custody in Chicago on sex charges.
The Grammy winner, whose real name is Robert Kelly, was arrested in February on 10 counts in Illinois involving four women, three of whom were minors when the alleged abuse occurred. He pleaded not guilty to those charges and was released on bail.
Then on May 30, Cook County prosecutors added 11 more sex-related counts to the charges involving one of the women who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was underage.
Kelly’s attorney, Steve Greenberg, confirmed his arrest to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Fitzpatrick said Kelly’s arraignment date and time had not yet been set.
The Guardian