*Prosecutors are moving to seize R. Kelly’s royalties as they seek to collect $500k owed to victims of his alleged sex crimes.
According to RadarOnline.com, the government has applied for a writ of continual garnishment against Kelly. Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music are being forced to turn over any money owed to the artist from his music sales to the government.
As part of the judgment in his criminal case, Kelly owes $504,289.90 plus interest. He has already been credited $27k, according to Radar.
In 2021, R. Kelly was found guilty on 9 federal counts that included sex crimes, human trafficking, and RICO charges. As TMZ reports, the singer says his conviction should be reversed because the government did not meet its burden of proof in court. Some of the evidence the prosecutors presented during the trial has been criticized by Kelly’s lawyers.
In related news, prosecutors in Cook County, Chicago, dropped state sex abuse charges against R. Kelly in January due to his lengthy federal prison sentence. We reported previously that his New York federal sex crimes trial has been appealed.
Meanwhile, Minnesota prosecutors have dropped sex abuse charges against the musician. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office noted in a statement the hitmaker has already been sentenced to decades behind bars on two separate federal convictions, ABC 7 NY reports.
Prosecutors in Minnesota allege Kelly paid a 17-year-old girl to dance naked with him in his hotel room in 2001. He would likely be convicted if tried, according to the prosecution, but they said pursuing a case that has been dormant since 2019 seems pointless since Kelly is likely to spend the rest of his life behind bars.
“The overwhelming impact of proceeding to trial in this case on the survivor victim, the community and the Hennepin County legal system would be enormous while a conviction would not add any additional time in prison,” the Hennepin County attorney’s office stated in a release.
READ MORE: R. Kelly No Longer Facing Sex Abuse Charges in Minnesota
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