Federal prosecutors announced charges Wednesday against three men accused of threatening and intimidating women who have accused R&B singer R. Kelly of abuse, including one man suspected of setting fire to a vehicle in Florida.
A longtime friend of the indicted singer offered to pay a victim $500,000 to keep her from cooperating in Kelly's prosecution, authorities said, while a manager and adviser of Kelly threatened to release sexually explicit photographs of a woman who sued Kelly.
The Grammy-award winning musician has denied ever abusing anyone and has pleaded not guilty to dozens of state and federal sexual misconduct charges in Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.
The charges range from sexual assault to heading a racketeering scheme aimed at supplying Kelly with girls. Kelly also is accused of having unprotected sex with a girl in 2015 without disclosing he had herpes.
Prosecutors described a third man accused of intimidating witnesses as being related to a former Kelly publicist. They said Michael Williams, 37, of Valdosta, Georgia, traveled to Florida in June and set fire to an SUV parked outside a residence where one of Kelly's victims was staying.
Williams also conducted Internet searches for "the detonation properties of fertilizer and diesel fuel, witness intimidation and witness tampering and countries that do not have extradition with the United States," authorities said in a news release.
A message was sent to Williams' attorney seeking comment.
Have you ever wanted to own a dinosaur? Rob Petrozzo, founder and chief product officer at The Rally Museum, joined Cheddar News to discuss how people can own a share of history.
Rob Petrozzo, founder and chief product officer of The Rally Museum, spoke with Cheddar News about how you can own a classic piece from its showings. "We're a little bit of a museum, a little bit of a gallery, but really it's a place where you can see all of these incredible collectibles," he said.
Cheddar News checks in with a coast-to-coast forecast of the weather.
From a whole lot of GOATs to la muerte de 'El Muerto,' here's what's happening in entertainment.
Students at an elementary school in Oregon met their pen pals who reside at a nearby retirement community.
A contestant on 'The Price Is Right' injured himself while celebrating a win on a game called "Bonkers."
Be Well: How These Beauty and Home Care Hacks Can Save You Money
Animal care shelters in New York City are reaching capacity. Cheddar News spoke to the director of Animal Care Centers of NYC, the largest in the city, who said it's been the worst she's seen in years. The shelter said it's seen a 20% spike in animals.
Charitable giving declined in 2022 for only the fourth time in the past four decades. Inflation and cost of living are believed to be the key factors behind the drop.
With summer officially here, parents are looking for seasonal camps for their children to keep them busy and experience the great outdoors. Cheddar News spoke with two mothers about the best way to prepare as kids set off for camp and activities.
