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Disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly has filed an urgent motion asking for his release from federal prison, arguing that his life is in imminent danger due to a plot allegedly orchestrated by prison officials.
The 58-year-old is currently serving multiple decades in prison for racketeering, sex trafficking, and child pornography offenses.
According to court filings, three Bureau of Prisons (BOP) officials allegedly conspired with Aryan Brotherhood inmate Mikeal Glenn Stine to have Kelly murdered in exchange for Stine's early release.
The affidavit - which includes Stine's sworn testimony-describes repeated attempts by prison personnel to recruit him for the plot while he was detained in Tucson, Arizona.
Accusations shake prison oversight
Stine, identified in the filings as a terminally ill Aryan Brotherhood leader, asserts he was approached "in March" after being transferred to the same unit as Kelly. He claims prison staff promised him freedom and continued financial if he carried out the killing.
He claims that officers said, "You need to do what you came here for." When Stine disclosed the plot to Kelly instead, officials allegedly moved him into the same housing unit-heeding instructions to continue observing the singer.
Stine also told attorneys he later learned that more of the Aryan Brotherhood were being recruited for the job: "The threat to Mr Kelly's life continues each day that no action is taken," the court documents assert, warning that further recruitment is underway.
Kelly's legal team has framed the filing as a plea for protection, calling continued incarceration under these conditions "cruel and unusual punishment." Attorney Beau Brindley argues that home confinement would significantly reduce the risk to Kelly's safety.
"Mr. Kelly's continued incarceration while he knows his life is in jeopardy constitutes cruel and unusual punishment," the motion states.
House arrest or continued imprisonment?
Notably, this is not Kelly's first safety-related request. In 2020, he sought release after an inmate assaulted him at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago - an appeal that was ultimately denied.
Kelly is serving concurrent 30- and 20-year federal sentences at Butner Medium I in North Carolina. Though incarcerated for serious crimes, the allegations point to potential misconduct within the correctional system. If the BOP knowingly facilitated a murder plot, it would raise profound questions about oversight and ability.
Advocates for fair prison conditions stress that even convicted inmates retain basic human rights, including the right to safety and due process. The current motion amplifies broader concerns about internal corruption and the treatment of high-profile prisoners.
As the court reviews Kelly's request, attention is likely to focus not only on his fate but on the prison authorities implicated. The motion challenges the balance between prisoner safety and institutional integrity. While Kelly awaits a decision, the public - and policymakers - will be listening for signals about transparency, ability, and the rule of law behind bars.