Federal prison officials are investigating how R. Kelly ended up with a retired warden’s personal phone number written inside his prison cell. The discovery happened at a federal prison facility in North Carolina. According to US News, Kelly’s cellmate was caught with a contraband cell phone. After that, prison staff searched the shared cell.
During the search, officers reportedly found the retired warden’s phone number written inside R. Kelly’s notebook. Because of the discovery, Kelly was placed in isolation while officials review the situation. Authorities are trying to determine how the number was obtained and whether any prison rules were broken.
R. Kelly, whose legal name is Robert Kelly, is currently serving a 30 year federal sentence. In 2021, he was convicted in New York on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. In 2022, he received an additional 20 year sentence in Chicago for child pornography and enticement of minors.
Prison officials have not shared further details about the investigation. Being placed in isolation means Kelly will be separated from the general prison population while the review continues.
The case adds another layer of controversy to the singer’s already high profile legal troubles.