R. Kelly – Sony Ordered To Pay Singer’s Former Landlord $1.5 Million From His Royalties Account

R. Kelly – Sony Ordered To Pay Singer’s Former Landlord $1.5 Million From His Royalties Account

Incarcerated singer R. Kelly just took another huge loss while behind bars.  His record label Sony has just been ordered to pay the singer’s former landlord all the money in R. Kelly’s royalties account, which totals more than $1.5 million.

The Wisconsin-based property management company secured a $3.5 million judgment against R. Kelly to cover past-due rent, and costs for repairs at the singer’s studio space, located at 219 N. Justine Street in Chicago.

In 2019, a woman was awarded $4 million, from R. Kelly when she sued him, alleging that she was sexually abused by him.  The unidentified woman is also one of R. Kelly’s four alleged victims in a pending criminal case in Cook County.

The woman and the alleged victim both made claims on the $1.5 million in Kelly’s royalties account with Sony. The alleged victim’s lawyer reached out to Sony on Aug. 17 with a “citation to discover assets.” Sony acknowledged that they received the citation on Aug. 25.

The attorney for R. Kelly’s former landlord, Midwest Commercial Funding, sent an email to Sony’s legal department on Aug. 19, and the citation was acknowledged on Aug. 24.

On Nov. 30, Cook County Judge Patrick Heneghan awarded the $1.5 Million in royalties to Midwest Commercial Funding.

Midwest Commercial Funding was given the award because Sony acknowledged the company’s citation before acknowledging R. Kelly’s alleged victim. He said:

“This matter comes down to the timing of the service.”

The judge also ordered Midwest Commercial Funding to keep a lien on Kelly’s royalties account.  The company will receive any money that comes into the account in the future.  The judge adds,

“Sony is directed and ordered to turn over any sums accruing to Kelly’s royalty account in the future, up to the total sum of MCF’s judgment ($3.484 million).”

Once R. Kelly’s royalties account clears the debt for what he owes to Midwest Commercial Funding, money will then go to R. Kelly’s alleged victim until her $4 million award is paid in full.

Just days after the funds were awarded to R. Kelly’s former landlord, the alleged victim filed a motion for reconsideration, arguing that Midwest Commercial Funding should take $1 million and leave the rest for the alleged victim.

“The Court’s analysis of MCF’s lien priority based on emailing it to Sony on August 19, 2020 is an error in this Court’s previous application of existing law which merits reconsideration,” Jeffrey Deutschman, the woman’s attorney, wrote in a motion.

The victim’s lawyer added,

“They have their building, but my client lost her childhood to a sexual predator.”

R. Kelly currently has criminal charges in multiple jurisdictions, from federal indictments in Illinois and New York, accusing him of racketeering, sexual exploitation of children, and child pornography.  The singer also has charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in Cook County as well as soliciting a minor and prostitution in Minnesota. He is currently behind bars at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago awaiting trial.

What are your thoughts on R. Kelly’s landlord receiving the funds before the alleged victim? Let us know in the comments!