R. Kelly’s attorneys have filed an emergency motion requesting his immediate release from federal prison to home confinement, citing serious threats to his life and alleged government misconduct. According to reports, his legal team claims prison officials at the North Carolina facility where Kelly is serving a 30-year sentence encouraged another inmate to kill him.
The inmate, Mikeal Glenn Stine—a terminally ill member of the Aryan Brotherhood—provided a sworn declaration alleging that officials offered him release in exchange for murdering Kelly. Stine claimed he was told that Kelly and his lawyers intended to expose damaging information, and that prison staff had been intercepting their confidential communications. Although initially willing to carry out the plan, Stine said he changed his mind and warned Kelly instead.
Kelly’s lawyers further claim that in June, a second Aryan Brotherhood member was also approached by officials to kill both Kelly and Stine. They argue Kelly is at ongoing risk as more gang members arrive at the facility, and fear someone will eventually succeed in harming him.
“The threat to Mr. Kelly’s life continues each day that no action is taken,” the motion states.
His attorney, Beau B. Brindley, is seeking a temporary release to home detention while the claims are investigated.
Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was convicted in 2021 on racketeering and sex crimes, and sentenced to 30 years. He received an additional 20-year sentence in 2023, with all but one year to run concurrently.
In February 2024, an appeals court upheld his conviction and sentence.
