R. Kelly pays $41,666 in child support, as prosecutors 'prepare to convene jury for separate charges of sexual assault'

ENTERTAINMENT

R. Kelly pays $41,666 in child support, as prosecutors 'prepare to convene jury for separate charges of sexual assault'

 

R. Kelly has paid over $40,000 in child support for the next two months to avoid facing jail time for contempt of court.

Kelly's family attorney Lisa Damico appeared in Chicago court Tuesday afternoon and paid $41,666 to cover June and July's child support payments to his ex-wife, Andrea Kelly, TMZ reported.  

It was claimed that the embattled singer, 52, still owes interest on back child support of $32,000.

However his manager Darrell Johnson told TMZ: 'At no point in the foreseen future do we see paying interest of child support. As of May 14, 2019 Mr. Kelly is current on support payments.'

Just days ago, the Grammy award winning singer appeared in court and paid another $62,000 in back child support during a hearing.  

It came weeks after the judge in that case ordered Kelly to jail after finding him in contempt of court for failing to pay $161,000 in back child support to his ex-wife, who is the mother of his three children.

Kelly remained locked up for three days until he raised the back child support.

'He's not a deadbeat dad,' Kelly's lawyer Lisa Damico told reporters after Wednesday's hearing, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

'All he wants to do is do right by his kids.'

Kelly's bookings for performances began drying up following the airing of a television documentary, Surviving R Kelly.

That was weeks before his February arrest on charges accusing him of sexually abusing a woman and three girls over roughly a 10-year period starting in the late 1990s.

Last Tuesday, one of his lawyers told reporters that he was lining up performances for the Grammy award-winning R&B singer in Illinois and outside the state, and that he anticipated the judge approving requests to travel to make those appearances.

Kelly has pleaded not guilty to the sexual abuse charges and denied any wrongdoing. 

Earlier this month, R. Kelly appeared for a hearing where his attorney, Steve Greenberg, demanded prosecutors hand over celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti's video evidence that allegedly shows Kelly having sex with an underage girl. 

Kelly's legal troubles are far from over as it was revealed that Illinois prosecutors are preparing to convene a grand jury later this month, to look into sex trafficking claims against Kelly. 

The case, led by the Northern District of Illinois, is separate from two other probes underway into Kelly in New York. 

That grand jury will reportedly include witness testimony of how Kelly allegedly bought plane tickets and hotel rooms for underage girls, as well as emails and text-messages and physical evidence including semen-stained clothing, according to TMZ. 

Earlier this year it was reported that Illinois investigators and prosecutors were looking for more sex tapes involving Kelly and minors and interviewing parties close to the singer.  

The video was brought to light by Avenatti, who represents two of Kelly's accusers. The lawyer currently faces unrelated charges of embezzlement and extortion in California.

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Ex-NAPIMS GGM, Dafe Ejebor, others arrested in US for sex trafficking

METRO NEWS

Ex-NAPIMS GGM, Dafe Ejebor, others arrested in US for sex trafficking

Dafe Sejebor, the former Group General Manager (GGM) of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) has been arrested in the United States alongside dozens of people in an undercover, human-trafficking sting conducted in the Katy area, Houston Chronicle reports.

Houston Police officer, Sgt. John Wall said during a press conference that 22 local, state and federal agencies partnered up for “Operation Tri Point” over the period of March 19-28 to tackle human trafficking in Katy and Fort Bend County.

Wall disclosed that 47 people were arrested in total; 27 of whom were females, 20 were males. Eight were confirmed victims and eight were charged with human-trafficking related offenses.

Wall said other charges such as sexual assault of a child, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful carrying of a weapon were also filed.

“What we know is that human trafficking is occurring. It’s not just an inner-city problem,” Wall said. “It’s occurring out in the suburbs. It’s occurring in smaller communities.”

The youngest victim was 16 years old and another victim was a runaway, according to Wall. He added most of the recruiting occurs online and through social media.

“I would say as much as 90 per cent [occurs online] and through social media,” Wall said. “Young adults spend an enormous amount of time on social media and they are vulnerable…They don’t understand the risk involved.”

Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton said the sting is a step in the right direction toward eliminating trafficking in the area.

“My office is committed to eradicating this problem in Fort Bend County,” Middleton said. “We realize it’s a serious issue and we are committed to combating it and making sure that Fort Bend County is safe and that these traffickers are run out of our county.”

Wall said the victims uncovered in the investigation will be given the appropriate support and services they need.

“We understand they are scared to come forward but we are going to do everything we can in our power to give them the services they need to move forward with their life,” Wall said.

According to Wall, many of the cases were first-degree felonies that can carry sentence of 20 to 99 years in prison. He said some of the cases will be filed in federal court and can have mandatory sentencing of 20 to 40 years in prison.

Wall said the investigation is still ongoing and other possible victims could be uncovered.

“Through time hopefully we will develop more leads and identity other victims and that’s our goal in this operation. This process could take months”, he added.

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