Donnell Russell, Threats to Theater, New York 2018
Donnell Russell, the manager of embattled music recording artist Robert Sylvester Kelly, better known as R. Kelly, has been charged with threatening physical harm by interstate communication and conspiracy to do the same.
According to the allegations, Russell, 45, of Chicago, Illinois, participated in a coordinated effort, including through the use of threats of violence, to prevent the screening of a multi-part documentary or docuseries entitled 'Surviving R. Kelly' at NeueHouse, a theater in New York, New York, on December 4, 2018.
The docuseries explores allegations that R. Kelly engaged in abusive sexual relationships with minor girls and adult women.
Russell worked with another individual associated with R. Kelly to draft correspondence to an executive at the Lifetime television channel discouraging the executive from airing the docuseries.
When that failed to stop the screening, Russell attempted to contact various law enforcement agencies in and around the theater, and even contacted a NeueHouse employee directly to threaten that there was a person in the theater with a gun prepared to shoot up the screening.
The Threat Call prompted the NeueHouse employee to call 911, and the theater cancelled the screening and evacuated the building.
Russell is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang later today.
The charges against Russell carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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