Disgraced singer-songwriter R. Kelly has been placed in solitary confinement after authorities discovered a retired warden’s phone number in Kelly’s notebook.
After the discovery, Kelly, who is currently serving 30 years in federal prison, was relocated to the Special Housing Unit at FCI Butner Medium I in North Carolina.
Kelly’s lawyer, Beau Brindley, told TMZ that Kelly landed himself in trouble after he participated in a mentor program to assist with providing guidance to fellow inmates. The warden at FCI Butner Medium 1 supervised the program.
However, trouble ensued after Kelly’s cellmate was allegedly caught with contraband, including a mobile phone, officials searched their shared cell. It was during that search when authorities found the retired warden’s contact information written down.
The warden has sinced retired but allegedly gave his cell phone number to Kelly before leaving.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on the specifics, citing privacy and security concerns.
“For privacy, safety, and security reasons, we do not discuss the conditions of confinement or internal security procedures for any inmate or group of inmates,” a spokesperson said per TMZ.
In 2021, R.Kelly, formerly, Robert Sylvester Kelly, was sentenced to 30 years in prison following a racketeering and sex trafficking conviction in New York. The evidence at trial included the testimony of 45 government witnesses, including more than 10 victims. The following year, he was convicted in Chicago of producing child pornography and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity and was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.