Who is Donnell Russell? R Kelly's ex-manager gets year in prison for threatening to shoot up NYC theater
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: R Kelly’s former manager was given a one-year prison sentence on December 19 for making a shooting threat that prevented the presentation of a critical documentary about the R&B singer. Former manager Donnell Russell's already-scheduled term in prison for making another effort to refute Kelly's sexual assault charges will not be extended by the sentence.
Russell collaborated with Kelly as the Grammy-winning and platinum-selling singer began to deal with the allegations that would eventually lead to a sex trafficking conviction. Prosecutors claimed that Russell made numerous attempts to have the accusations dropped. He admitted to making "bad judgments" after starting to work with Kelly. Russell described it as intellectual property problems, telling a judge in New York on December 19 during his hearing, “I'm not a horrible person,” as per Daily Mail. The theater received a phone threat just before the scheduled start of Lifetime's 'Surviving R' on December 4, 2018. The series focused on claims that Kelly had sexually abused women and girls.
READ MORE
R Kelly will have to make do with chicken instead of turkey on first Thanksgiving since sentencing
'WHY?': R Kelly Grand Jury asks prosecutors the one question everyone has about the late Aaliyah
The documentary's female subjects would participate in a live panel discussion that would follow the screening. According to the emergency phone call, there was a gun at the event and someone was going to shoot. The theater was evacuated and the screening was canceled in a quick turn of events. In that instance, a jury reportedly found Russell guilty of conspiracy but not guilty of threatening physical harm through interstate communication in July.
There were numerous phone calls made to the theater on the day in question, according to Russell's defense and there was insufficient proof that he had broken the law, as per reports. Russell entered a guilty plea to an interstate stalking charge concerning one of Kelly's sexual assault allegations a few days after the jury's decision. He was given a 20-month jail term by a federal judge in Brooklyn last month for actions that included sending a woman threatening texts and later posting intimate pictures of her online. Russell, 47, is expected to surrender himself next year to begin serving both of his sentences at once. In contrast, Kelly received a 30-year prison term in June for his involvement in sex trafficking and racketeering.
Who is Donnell Russell?
Native to New Orleans, Louisiana, Donnell Russell infuses his songs with the energy and diversity of the city's culture. Donnell entered the gospel music world as a solo artist with his debut single, ‘Grace,’ after more than ten years of traveling and recording with choirs, ensembles, and other artists. In 2021, the self-penned balladeer published his debut book, 'Next Level Worship'.