R. Kelly Placed in Isolation Over Retired Warden’s Phone Number

Disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly has been moved to solitary confinement—officially known as the Special Housing Unit (SHU)—at FCI Butner Medium 1 in North Carolina. The move follows a federal investigation into how Kelly obtained the personal cell phone number of a recently retired prison warden.

The discovery was made during a security sweep triggered by Kelly’s cellmate being caught with a contraband mobile phone. While searching the shared cell, officials found the retired official’s contact information written inside Kelly’s personal notebook.

The Defense: A Mentorship Misunderstanding

Kelly’s attorney, Beau Brindley, argues that the possession of the number was completely innocent and related to the singer’s rehabilitation efforts.

• Mentor Program: Kelly was reportedly participating in a prison mentor program designed to guide younger or newer inmates. This initiative was overseen by the facility’s warden at the time.
• The “Guidance” Claim: Brindley states that before the warden retired, he provided Kelly with his personal cell phone number specifically to offer continued advice and guidance regarding the mentorship initiative.
• No Contraband: The defense emphasizes that while the cellmate had a physical phone, Kelly only had a written number in a notebook, which they argue does not constitute a security violation.

Conditions of Confinement

As of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Kelly remains in the SHU while the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) reviews the situation.

• Isolation: In the SHU, inmates are typically kept in their cells for 23 hours a day with limited access to phone calls, visitors, or general population activities.
• BOP Response: Following standard protocol, the Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on the specific security actions, citing “privacy, safety, and security reasons.”
• Past Allegations: This is not Kelly’s first stint in isolation; in June 2025, his legal team claimed he was moved to the SHU following “extraordinary allegations” of a murder plot involving prison staff and gang members—claims federal prosecutors dismissed as a “fanciful conspiracy.”

R. Kelly’s Current Legal Status (Feb 2026)

Kelly is currently serving a combined 31-year sentence for multiple federal convictions.

Under his current sentence structure, Kelly’s projected release date is December 21, 2045, at which time he would be 78 years old.