R. Kelly's manager is charged with calling Manhattan theater and threatening a mass shooting if they didn't stop screening of documentary accusing the singer of sex crimes

R. Kelly's manager has been arrested on charges that he threatened a shooting at a Manhattan theater to thwart the screening of a documentary addressing allegations of sexual abuse against the disgraced singer. 

Donnell Russell, 45, of Chicago, was charged with conspiracy and with threatening physical harm by interstate communication. He appeared remotely Friday before a magistrate judge in Manhattan federal court. 

The charges come on the heels of Russell being charged in Brooklyn federal court earlier this week with harassing a Kelly victim and her mother after the unidentified woman filed a lawsuit against Kelly.   

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Gretchen Carlson speaks at Lifetime / NeueHouse Luminaries series 'Surviving R. Kelly' documentary screening on December 4, 2018, before an evacuation sparked by a threatening call that was allegedly made by R Kelly's manager 

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Donnell Russell (not pictured), a manager and adviser of R Kelly, has been charged with conspiracy and with threatening physical harm by interstate communication

Authorities said Russell sent a letter to the woman's lawyer with cropped nude photographs of her and later sent her a text warning her: 'Pull the plug or you will be exposed.'

In the latest case, authorities said the threats by Kelly's manager and adviser on December 4, 2018, forced the cancellation of the screening of Lifetime's 'Surviving R. Kelly' docu-series at the NeueHouse Madison Square.

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According to a federal complaint, Russell had made repeated attempts to cancel the screening of the Lifetime docu-series Surviving R Kelly 

The venue was evacuated as a precaution, although police determined that there was no imminent threat. 

Several victims were in attendance at the private screening, along with influential writers and activists, including #MeToo founder Tarana Burke and #OscarsSoWhite creator April Reigns.

Acting US Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a release that a number of the Grammy award-winning R&B singer's accusers were to attend the screening.

'Threats of gun violence aimed at intimidating and silencing victims of sexual abuse are unlawful as well as unacceptable,' she said.

William Sweeney Jr, head of New York's FBI office, said it 'defies logic that a threat like the one alleged here could stop victims from speaking about their alleged abuse.'

Sweeney said Russell succeeded in shutting down one airing of the documentary but failed to silence the women featured in the film.

'Each and every day, we do everything in our power to make sure victims of sexual abuse have the opportunity to be heard, and will continue to do so regardless of those who allegedly use violence as a means to stop them,' he said.

According to the complaint, Russell admitted to sending the NeueHouse theater a 'cease and desist' letter to try to prevent the screening. 

After his attempt failed, Russell contacted multiple law enforcement agencies near the theater and ultimately contacted a NeueHouse staffer directly through a landline associated with his home in Chicago.

Prior to the call, Russell and another Kelly associated based out of New York allegedly worked together to draft a letter to Lifetime, 'discouraging' an executive at the TV channel from airing the docuseries.  

In the phone call, Russell threatened that 'someone at the Screening had a gun and was going to shoot up the place,' the complaint states.

Kelly remains jailed in Chicago after pleading not guilty to dozens of state and federal sex crime charges in Illinois, Minnesota and New York.

Screening for series on R Kelly evacuated after receiving threats

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After sending a 'cease and desist' letter to the NeueHouse Madison Square (pictured), Russell allegedly called the venue and said there was someone with a gun 'who was going to shoot up the place'

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A screenshot from cellphone video shows the evacuation of the theater on December 4 

The charges range from sexual assault to leading a racketeering scheme aimed at supplying Kelly with girls. Kelly also is accused of having unprotected sex with a minor in 2015 without disclosing he had herpes. 

The 'I Believe I Can Fly' hitmaker is set for trial first in New York, where the case against him includes racketeering accusations that he systematically recruited girls for sex while touring, later coercing them into sexual activity.

Jury selection for those proceedings are currently set to begin September 29, but restrictions preventing in-person trials due to the coronavirus pandemic will likely see that date postponed.