R Kelly's three associates charged with trying to silence victims by setting car afire and offering $500k bribe
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: Three of R Kelly's associates, namely Donnell Russell, Richard Arline Jr and Michael Williams were recently arrested for multiple charges of harassment, intimidation and bribery to prevent R Kelly's accusers from testifying against the singer. Robert Sylvester Kelly aka R Kelly is currently behind bars in Chicago, where he awaits trial for sexual abuse, child pornography and obstruction of justice charges. He is also being held for separate federal racketeering charges in Brooklyn, New York. The high-profile nature of these cases got further embroiled in controversy when these three men were detained for attempting to keep victims and accusers from testifying against the singer, with three separate criminal complaints being filed against them.
On Wednesday, August 12, federal investigators revealed that Donnell Russell, Richard Arline Jr and Michael Williams had been attempting to threaten, harass and bribe R Kelly's victims, and serious repercussions are bound to follow. “The defendants are separately charged with engaging in multiple crimes that were intended to undermine and subvert the integrity of the criminal justice system and victimize the women who have come forward with serious allegations of criminal conduct against the defendant R Kelly,” Acting US Attorney Seth D DuCharme stated in a press release and added, “Efforts to illegally influence pending federal cases, whether through threats of violence, intimidation, damage to property, or payments to buy a potential witness’s silence, will not be tolerated.”
One of the most glaring charges involves Donnell Russell, R Kelly's self-described manager and adviser, who allegedly harassed and intimidated an unnamed victim [Jane Doe] and her mother by way of public humiliation. "Russell threatened to reveal sexually explicit photographs of Jane Doe and to publicly reveal her sexual history if she did not withdraw her lawsuit against Kelly and ‘cease her participation and association with the organizers’ of a ‘negative campaign’ against Kelly,” said prosecutors. Russell had also allegedly used a false identity to create a Facebook page called "Surviving Lies" (a play on the 'Surviving R Kelly' Lifetime documentary), where he posted screenshots of text messages between R Kelly and Jane Doe, which included sexually explicit photos.
Richard Arline Jr, who is a longtime friend of R Kelly's, has also been accused of trying to illegally influence the testimony of an unnamed victim by bribing her. The woman promptly contacted law enforcement when she learned of Arline's proposed plan, and some of their phone conversations were secretly recorded. Arline had allegedly offered the woman $500,000 to "keep quiet" and also claimed that he had been communicating with R Kelly while he was behind bars. During one of the recorded phone calls, Arline reportedly said, "If I had a way to talk to Rob [Kelly], being next to him, and telling him what’s going on, without nobody listening to, no feds, nobody, he gonna pay her... off to be quiet,” and also added, “She got too much.”
In a separate case, Michael Williams, who is a relative of a former R Kelly publicist, maliciously set fire to an SUV parked outside the home of one of R Kelly's alleged victims in an attempt to intimidate, delay and influence their testimony against the singer. Fire investigators said they discovered an accelerant on the outside perimeter of the residence, while more evidence was also found against Williams. “Cell site records, surveillance footage, toll records and photographs, and Williams’ internet searches for the victim’s address, revealed that Williams had driven from Georgia to the Florida residence. Williams also performed internet queries about the detonation properties of fertilizer and diesel fuel, witness intimidation and witness tampering, and countries that do not have extradition with the United States,” prosecutors claimed.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent-in-charge Peter C Fitzhugh admitted, “These crimes shock the conscience.” He continued, “The men charged today allegedly have shown that there is no line they will not cross to help Kelly avoid the consequences of his alleged crimes — even if it means re-victimizing his accusers. These acts not only fly in the face of human decency, they insult the very rule of law. HSI will continue to bring the full force of our investigative powers to pursue those seeking to attack witnesses and pervert the cause of justice. To the victims of these and other crimes: we stand with you. We will meet your bravery with our resolve to keep you safe to tell your story.”
The NYPD Commissioner Dermot F Shea also stated, "The bribery, intimidation, and violence alleged in these complaints reflects a nationwide pattern of criminality that further victimized civilian witnesses in a federal case. Such behavior can never be accepted and I commend the NYPD investigators, federal agents, and prosecutors from the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York in bringing these charges."