R. Kelly Back In Chicago Federal Prison Awaiting August Trial

CHICAGO — R. Kelly, the R&B superstar who was sentenced to 30 years last month after being convicted of sex trafficking and racketeering, is back in Chicago, where he is awaiting trial next month on further charges.

Kelly was transferred from a prison in Brooklyn to the Metropolitan Correctional Facility in downtown Chicago on Tuesday. Kelly, 55, is set to face charges in Chicago in federal court after prosecutors allege that the musician, along with two associates, conspired to hide years of sexual abuse of underage girls.

Jury selection is set to begin on Aug. 15.

Kelly is appealing the conviction and sentence that was handed down last month in New York. Kelly served more than a year in prison in Brooklyn on the nine counts he was convicted of involving sex trafficking.

In Chicago, the musician will stand trial on federal charges that he produced child pornography and lured minors into sex acts. Kelly was acquitted in 2008 of child pornography charges, but now, prosecutors are alleging that Kelly, along with the former two associates, attempted to manipulate the trial’s outcome by paying off witnesses and victims.

The New York Times reported that in one case, one man was paid $170,000 to cancel a news conference in which he was going to announce he had evidence of Kelly’s illegal sexual behavior.

Kelly has pleaded not guilty to the charges.