R&B singer R Kelly has been arrested on sex trafficking charges, according to American law officials.
Kelly, 52, was taken in to custody on Thursday in Chicago by New York police detectives and investigators with the Department of Homeland Security, and is expected to be taken to New York City.
In a short statement, US Attorney spokesperson Joseph Fitzpatrick said child pornography, enticement of a minor and obstruction of justice were among the 13 charges against the R&B singer, whose real name is Robert Kelly.
Kelly has denied abuse allegations for a number of years.
The arrest marks the second time this year that Kelly has been taken into custody in Chicago on sex charges.
In February, he pleaded not guilty to 10 sex-related charges in Illinois involving four women, three of whom were minors at the time of the alleged abuse.
In June, he pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and abuse, said to have taken place against a victim between the ages of 13 and 16 from May 2009 to January 2010.
It’s not clear at this time whether the latest arrest is in relation to previous cases.