crime

R. Kelly Charged With 20 More Years In Prison, Twitter Reacts

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R. Kelly, who has already been behind bars with a 30-year sentence, is now charged with 20 more years in prison. Just last year, the 56-year-old rapper received charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, CNN reports. The current federal case reached its sentencing conclusion today (February 23rd), with Kelly serving additional time for child pornography and enticing a minor. The presiding judge on the case was US District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber announced in court that 19 of the years will be served concurrently with his previous sentence, with the other year being added to the 30-year sentence.

Initially convicted last September, Kelly was facing three counts of child pornography, and three counts of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, the outlet reports. The “Back Up” singer had faced similar charges in 2002 but received the verdict of not guilty. In all, Kelly’s most recent sentencing reflects three decades of his torment of underage victims. One of these victims emotionally depicted the aftermath of the repeat sex offender’s actions, which attorney Christopher Brown conveyed in court. She wrote, “I have lost my dignity due to Robert Kelly. I have lost my dreams due to Robert Kelly. I have lost my teenage years to Robert Kelly.”

R. Kelly To Serve Sentence Concurrently With Existing 30-Years

Repeat sex offender R. Kelly to serve 19 years concurrently with current 30-year sentence. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Sentencing guidelines for Kelly’s case ranged from 11.25 to 14 years for the defense, and 14 to 17 years for the prosecution. The legal team representing the rapper argued, “in the unlikely event that Kelly was to survive his 30-year sentence, there is no reason to believe he would re-offend as a geriatric in his mid-80s. The overwhelming majority of Kelly’s criminal conduct was committed a quarter century ago.” The decision for the concurrent sentencing remained in the court’s hands.

With the updates in Kelly’s high-profile case circulating today, many Twitter users sharing their opinions over the additional 20-year sentencing. “R kelly is getting 20 years in prison, one enthusiastic user tweeted, “im sooooo happy.” Others, however, weren’t happy with the concurrent sentence. “As it stands now, R Kelly will serve no more than 31 years in prison. If he survives, he will be let out of prison again around the age 80. What a life, gone way wrong,” one user reflected. Be sure to check out more Twitter reactions to R. Kelly down below, and don’t forget to keep up with HNHH for the hottest news in hip-hop.

Twitter Reacts:

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Nipsey Hussle’s Friend Cowboy On Eric Holder’s 60-Year Sentence: “Justice Was Definitely Served”

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Nearly four years after the death of Nipsey Hussle, his accused killer, Eric Holder, was finally sentenced to jail time. A jury convicted Holder last July of first-degree murder and attempted voluntary manslaughter following a lengthy trial. However, it was only this week that a judge handed down a 60-year prison sentence. The high-profile case earned coverage across the globe while Holder and his attorney tried to reduce the charge from first-degree murder, which was ultimately denied.

Holder will likely spend his remaining years behind bars. At the time of his sentencing, he was 33 years old, which means that he’ll be in his 90s if he’s ever released. However, his sentencing became a relief to many friends, fans and peers of Nipsey, who’ve demanded justice since his death in 2019. In addition to first degree murder and attempted voluntary manslaughter, the jury also found Holder guilty of 2 counts of assault with a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Cowboy Reflects On Eric Holder’s Conviction For Nipsey Hussle’s Death

A close friend of Nipsey Hussle, Cowboy, was approached by TMZ outside of the courtroom following Holder’s conviction. He explained that “justice was definitely served” but regardless of Holder’s sentencing, he said that it won’t bring back Nipsey. “60 years, that’ll hold him. It was definitely justice for Nipsey,” he said before explaining that the death of Nipset still hurts. “It’s going to hurt forever. It’s going to be an open wound forever because we’re not going to get over Nipsey… He got all this time but it’s not going to bring Nipsey back.”

Cowboy continued to explain the significance of Nipsey Hussle to his community. He also expressed his condolences to Nipsey’s family, who wasn’t in attendance at the sentencing. “I’m still grieving Nipsey,” he explained. “I could imagine how his mom, his dad, his brother – they were tight. I’m still hurt and I was just his friend,” he added. Though they might not be biologically related, Cowboy explained that Nip’s family provided him with plenty of knowledge over the years that he never got from his own family. Check out his interview with TMZ above. 

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Kay Flock Hit With RICO Charges Amid Murder Case

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As much as Kay Flock has ascended from the New York drill underground in the last year or so, he has also been bogged down by the justice system. While still awaiting trial for a murder case, Flock has now been indicted for racketeering charges, according to TMZ. On Thursday (Feb. 23), the 19-year-old was indicted by a federal grand jury for helping run the Sev Side/D.O.A. gang, TMZ says. Ironically, this come just a few months after Kay Flock put out his December album The D.O.A. Tape (Care Package). The LP includes features from frequent collaborator Dougie B, as well as G Herbo, Fivio Foreign, Gucci Mane, and more. Additionally, the tape features his single “Shake It” with Cardi B, Dougie B, and Bory300. “Shake It” played a huge part in uplifting the NY drill scene in 2021, and peaked at No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100.

However, in Dec. 2021, eight months after the release of “Shake It,” Kay Flock ran into trouble. On Dec. 23, he was arrested for his involvement in the Dec. 16 death of 24-year-old Oscar Hernandez. According to police, the incident started at a barber shop. Flock and Hernandez had issues prior, and the argument escalated to a shooting, police said. Subsequently, Flock enlisted the help of Jeffrey Lichtman, the former lawyer of Mexican cartel leader El Chapo. Flock is currently in jail awaiting trial for this murder charge, so another RICO case added on top of that must be hard to stomach.

Kay Flock’s Situation

The aforementioned racketeering charge Kay Flock was just it with allegedly carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life or death penalty, according to Akademiks. According to TMZ, Flock and five other members of Sev Side/D.O.A will all have to face trial for the RICO indictment. The federal grand jury stated that Sev Side/D.O.A’s “primary purpose was to commit robberies, acts of violence and financial fraud in their Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx,” TMZ says. So, it appears that Kay Flock may need to lawyer up a bit more.

The most recent development in the Kay Flock murder case, however, came from his lawyer in July. Lichtman stated at the time that Flock acted in self-defense, and that their claim can be backed up with video evidence. Lichtman also vowed to stay in Flock’s corner and continue to fight for his innocence. That may be tougher now, though, considering the murder charge is now coupled with this new RICO case. Stay tuned in to HNHH for more updates regarding Kay Flock as they come in.

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R. Kelly Sentenced To One More Additional Year Of Prison Time In Chicago Case

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R. Kelly was sentenced to 20 years in prison in his Chicago case, but most of that time will be served concurrently with his 30-year sentence from his New York conviction. Moreover, the disgraced artist will serve 19 of those 20 years at the same time he’ll serve his other sentence, with one year of this new sentence served after his 30 years in a Chicago federal prison. Furthermore, U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber added just one more year to Kelly’s overall sentence, totaling at 31 years. Also, he was convicted on charges of child pornography and enticement of minors in his Chicago case. On the other hand, his New York sentence came from convictions of racketeering and sex trafficking charges. All these charges, convictions, and sentences are on a federal level.

Furthermore, the sentence is less than what prosecutors and victims sought in the case. They believed Kelly’s crimes constituted jail time for the rest of his life, and wanted the Chicago sentence to come into effect after he served his New York time. “The only way to ensure Kelly does not reoffend is to impose a sentence that will keep him in prison for the rest of his life,” they expressed to Judge Leinenweber in court documents requesting an additional 25 years.

R. Kelly’s 20-Year Sentence Is A Year-Long One In Practice

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 06: Singer R. Kelly leaves the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on June 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The singer appeared in front of a judge to face new charges of criminal sexual abuse. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

However, defense attorneys maintained that his existing 30-year sentence already constituted a practically lifetime sentence. For example, they pointed out many of the R&B singer’s past traumas, defending that he was a hurt person who hurt people. Also, they brought up the star’s diabetes condition and made seemingly successful arguments for leniency in his sentencing. In a riskier move, Kelly’s legal team argued that the government sought to convict him on previously acquitted charges, and had mentioned accusations of racial bias compared to other celebrities.

Overall, the judge ruled that the singer’s actions did not merit a sex trafficking sentencing enhancement. Leinenweber disagreed with prosecutors on the claim that Kelly used fear to seduce young girls, even after testimonies. Furthermore, he stated that deterrence is not a valid factor, since Kelly already lost his wealth and status as a result of his deplorable crimes. Regardless of your take on the sentence, come back to HNHH for the latest news and updates on R. Kelly.

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Khloe Kardashian Sued By Ex-Assistant, Denies Not Compensating Him

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Khloe Kardashian is seemingly under fire after being sued by her former household assistant. Matthew Manhard, who had worked for the 38-year-old from January 2019 until November 2022, had sustained a knee injury that kept him out of work. He claims that the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star had fired him upon returning to the job. Accordingly, Manhard is suing Kardashian in violation of multiple California labor laws. He goes as far as to call his former working conditions a “nightmare,” TMZ reports.

Legal representatives for Kardashian remain unwavering by these accusations. According to the case files obtained by the news outlet, one rep stated, “it’s unfortunate to learn that a former employee would choose to go this route. Matthew was properly classified and compensated for his role.” Manhard’s injury kept him from working from May to November of 2022. The legal team reflected, “toward the end of his employment, he was on a leave of absence for an extended period of time and the role eventually needed to be replaced. We will not tolerate false accusations and will prove that this is a frivolous lawsuit.” Needless to say, Kardashian’s lawyers are fighting back hard.

Kardashian’s Former Assistant Claims Working Conditions Were A “Nightmare”

Khloe Kardashian and momager Kris Jenner. (Photo by RB/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images via Getty)

According to Manhard’s “accusations,” being Kardashian’s household assistant was a far-from-easy task. He claims that he’d often work 12-hour shifts without being compensated for overtime hours. Additionally, these shifts were often packed with back-to-back tasks, not allowing Manhard to take legally required breaks.

While the fate of Manhard’s case is yet to be decided, this is not the first time that a member of the Kardashian clan has faced a lawsuit. Previously, the family battled with Blac Chyna over $100 million. Chyna took the Kardashian-Jenners to court last year over the cancellation of the Rob & Chyna series. The court ruled in the favor of the reality television moguls. But even with facing haters chasing after their money, this iconic family remains unfazed. The Kardashians season 3 has been renewed by Hulu and Disney+, with a release date yet to be announced. For more news on the latest in hip-hop and pop culture, be sure to check out HNHH.

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Kanye West Obtains New Legal Team For $7 Million Lawsuit

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Kanye West is no stranger to lawsuits. After being canceled by his previous legal team for his antisemitic comments, Ye has finally obtained new representation that will defend him in his current crisis. According to RadarOnline, attorney Gregory K. Nelson will be fighting for the 45-year-old’s current $7 million lawsuit. Phantom Labs, the production company that had put on several of Ye’s events, is suing the rapper for outstanding invoices.

From June 2021 to March 2022, Phantom Labs worked with the “Bound 2” singer on his Sunday Service events, the Free Larry Hover show with Drake, and the Donda 2 listening party. Most recently, the company was starting work for Ye’s Coachella performance this year before it was canceled. While the controversial artist initially paid the invoices on time, the charges quickly piled up. In total, Phantom Labs is seeking $6 million in unpaid dues, with an additional $1.1 million for their work for the Coachella set.

Kanye West Sued By “Sunday Service” Production Team

Kanye West previously dropped by legal team for antisemitic comments and lack of communication. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images)

Ye, however, remains that the production company’s accusations are incorrect. The news outlet reports that he claims to not owe the company as they have “failed to perform the services.” To escape the charges, Ye believes the case should be closed, as Phantom Labs “performed so poorly that any further payment would be unreasonable and unfair.” With the large-scale projects created by the team remaining unpaid, Attorney Nelson and his team will be defending their client in court. “I, Gregory K. Nelson, of Weeks Nelson, hereby enter my appearance as counsel for Defendants YE, f/k/a Kanye Omari West, Very Good Touring, Inc., Yeezy Apparel LLC and Yeezy LLC in this matter,” the filing stated.

Nina D. Boyajian, who previously represented Ye, noted an additional reason for dropping him as a client. She claims that she has been “unable to meaningfully communicate with [West] in order to represent them in this matter.” This is not the only case in which the father-of-four has received backlash from his legal representation. Ye’s recent lawsuit with an Australian burger shop over the use of the name “College Dropout” faced a similar fate. After going M.I.A., Boyajian’s team seemingly had enough. While they couldn’t get in contact with him, the law firm took to newspapers to publically denounce the rapper. To keep up with all things hip-hop, be sure to check out HNHH.

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R. Kelly To Be Sentenced Today In Chicago Case

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R. Kelly will be sentenced in Chicago federal court later today on federal charges of child pornography and enticing a minor. Moreover, this marks the 56-year-old’s second sentence in the past year following his 30-year sentenced in New York. In that case, the court convicted him in June 2022 for racketeering and sex trafficking charges. In addition, the court also denied the singer’s legal team’s request for a new trial last week. With a minimum of a ten-year prison term looming over this next sentencing, many wonder how they will choose to make Kelly serve time.

Furthermore, prosecutors asked for a 25-year sentence to take effect after he finishes serving his 30 years. “Robert Kelly is a serial sexual predator who, over the course of many years, specifically targeted young girls and went to great lengths to conceal his abuse of Jane and other minor victims,” they expressed in a filing. “To this day, and even following the jury verdict against him, Kelly refuses to accept responsibility for his crimes.” Meanwhile, his defense maintained that he’s already serving a “de facto life sentence” and should serve new time while he completes his 30-year sentence. Still, Kelly will likely be in prison for the majority of his remaining life.

R. Kelly’s Uncertain Future Ahead Of Sentence

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 06: Singer R. Kelly leaves the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on June 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The singer appeared in front of a judge to face new charges of criminal sexual abuse. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

“In the unlikely event that Kelly was to survive his 30-year sentence, there is no reason to believe he would reoffend as a geriatric in his mid-80s,” his legal team stated. “The overwhelming majority of Kelly’s criminal conduct was committed a quarter century ago.” While both sides made compelling arguments for the R&B star, the judge will ultimately decide how he serves time. Moreover, his federal trial in Chicago revolved around five women’s testimonies that he abused them in the late 1990s. However, other prosecutors such as those in Cook County, Illinois dropped state sex-crime charges following his New York sentencing.

“I understand how hard it was for these victims to come forward and tell their stories. I applaud their courage and have the utmost respect for everyone who came forward,” Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx remarked. “While this may not be the result they were expecting, due to the sentences that Mr. Kelly is facing, we do feel that justice has been served.” Regardless of these developments, stick around on HNHH to see what will become of R. Kelly’s fate.

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Detective Testifies In XXXTentacion Trial

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A detective involved in the investigation into the murder of XXXTentacion has taken the stand in the trial of those accused of killing the South Florida rapper. He says that suspect Dedrick Williams changed his story several times. He also confirmed that the suspect never mentioned Drake, Migos, or any other rap groups as having hired him. The defense previously suggested that Drake may have been involved in the killing.

On the stand, the detective explained that Williams changed his story for a third time after being told that the property had security cameras. In addition to Williams, Michael Boatwright and Trayvon Newsome have also been charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery regarding X’s death. The group faces up to life in prison if convicted.

The Detective’s Testimony

As for Drake’s involvement, the defense cited a tweet from XXXTentacion prior to his death during their opening statements. “Before X died, he said, ‘If anybody kills me, it’s Drake.’ Do you think sitting here years later, any detective has ever asked Drake or anybody like that? No,” attorney Mauricio Padilla said according to Complex. “This is one of the biggest celebrities in the world. Excluding an order from this court, we all know that I will never be able to take his deposition.”

They ended up getting their wish and Drake has a deposition scheduled for February 24. “If deponent Aubrey Drake Graham does not appear to deposition he must appear before this court on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 at 10 a.m. EST at so [sic] the court can determine why he should not be held in contempt,” the motion reads. Outside of the out of context tweet from X, there’s no other evidence of Drake being involved in his killing.

Fans mostly responded to the detective’s testimony with doubt about Drake’s involvement. “They want tickets to Drake’s concerts so badly,” one wrote on a post from DJ Akademiks. Another added: “They want drake so damn bad. It should be illegal to try and drag a random man into court for a MURDER case and potentially ruin his career or life. It’s so weird.”

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Nipsey Hussle’s Killer Eric Holder Sentenced To 60 Years

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After years of waiting, Eric Holder has been sentenced for the murder of Nipsey Hussle. The Los Angeles rapper was tragically killed in front of his Marathon Clothing Store in his hometown in 2019. He was quickly praised for his community efforts outside of his music career, and the global response was unlike any other experience in pop culture. Eric Holder was arrested promptly after witnesses named him as the assailant.

Surveillance cameras also captured the incident, implicating Holder in the crime. His defense attorneys argued he suffered from mental illness, but that didn’t hold much water. The anticipation of his sentencing has boiled over. Today (February 22), it was learned Holder received 60 years to life in prison.

Details Of The Sentencing Hearing
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 09: Nipsey Hussle attends 2019 Roc Nation THE BRUNCH on February 9, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Roc Nation )

Holder was found guilty of first-degree murder, and considering his past legal indiscretions, his sentence didn’t surprise the public. Additionally, KTLA 5 News reports that Holder was found guilty “of two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter and two counts of assault with a firearm.” Those charges stemmed from the two other victims during the shooting who survived their injuries.

The outlet further shared that Holder “stared straight ahead throughout the proceedings.” A letter from his father was read in court, and Holder didn’t react when the verdict was handed down. The sentencing was initially delayed because the defense hoped to argue down the first-degree conviction, but it proved futile. Holder’s case wasn’t eligible for death penalty discussions.

Nipsey Hussle & Eric Holder Were Acquainted
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 14: Rapper Nipsey Hussle performs onstage during day one of the Rolling Loud Festival at Banc of California Stadium on December 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

Investigators revealed that Nipsey and his killer knew each for some time. They were both members of the Rollin’ 60s gang in Los Angeles and had dreams of becoming the next prominent rapper from the City of Angels. It was suggested that someone referred to Holder as a “snitch,” unleashing his ire that resulted in Nipsey’s slaying. A witness testified during the trial that Nipsey’s death was a tragedy for not only his loved ones but for the community as a whole.

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