“R. Kelly has been released from United States of America Federal Prison, Chicago.”
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Singer R. Kelly is still incarcerated, but social media posts wrongly claim he’s been freed
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R. Kelly is still incarcerated, serving a 30-year prison sentence.
A July 1 Instagram post declares that singer R. Kelly "is out" despite a 30-year prison sentence handed down in 2022 after he was convicted in New York of federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
"Victory at last," reads text over a video clip of Kelly. "R. Kelly has been released from United States of America Federal Prison, Chicago."
In the clip, Kelly says he promises "we’re going to straighten all this out."
But the footage is old and public records show he’s still incarcerated.
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The video is from 2019, when Kelly left Cook County Jail in Chicago. He had been arrested for outstanding child support payments, and he was released after paying off the $161,000 he owed to his ex-wife, ABC News reported then..
Prison records show that Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, is 57 years old. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a "Robert Sylveste Kelly," age 57, was in custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago as of July 2. We don’t know why "Sylvester" is missing the "r" on the prison bureau’s website, but the register number listed there for Kelly matches what’s appeared in court filings and news coverage.
We rate this post False.
Our Sources
Instagram post, July 1, 2024
CNN, R. Kelly sentenced to 30 years in prison for federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges, June 30, 2022
Associated Press, Disgraced R&B star R. Kelly back in Chicago for sex trial, July 13, 2022
Chicago Tribune, R. Kelly back in Chicago’s federal jail ahead of trial next month, July 13, 2022
PolitiFact, An old photo of R. Kelly leaving jail is being shared online but the singer is still in custody, June 4, 2021
Bureau of Prisons, Inmate search: Robert Kelly, July 18, 2022
The Atlantic, The R. Kelly Federal Indictments Describe a Conspiracy, July 12, 2019
PolitiFact, No, R. Kelly didn’t escape prison, July 18, 2022
ABC News, R. Kelly released from jail after arrest for outstanding child support payments, March 9, 2019
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Singer R. Kelly is still incarcerated, but social media posts wrongly claim he’s been freed
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