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<\/p>\nExclusive<\/p>\n
TMZ\/Getty Composite<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n R. Kelly<\/strong><\/a> wants to change up his legal team \u2026 by bringing on one of the most powerful, successful criminal defense lawyers in the country \u2026 Tom Mesereau<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Sources familiar with the case tell TMZ \u2026 Mesereau is in Chicago right now, meeting with Kelly, who is charged with various sex crimes in 4 different jurisdictions \u2014 Illinois State, Illinois Federal, New York Federal and Minnesota State.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n In case you don\u2019t know \u2026 Mesereau has worked miracles in the courtroom. He got Michael Jackson<\/strong><\/a> acquitted of child molestation in 2005, and got Robert Blake<\/strong><\/a> acquitted of murdering his wife, also back in 2005.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n We\u2019re told Mesereau has not officially signed on, but that\u2019s the plan. If he does, he will be the lead attorney and possibly the sole attorney representing Kelly.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The big question \u2026 how\u2019s Kelly paying his legal and other bills? As you know, he\u2019s struggled to pay<\/strong><\/a> child support and was even jailed for a time before someone footed the bill<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Kelly is currently behind bars without bail<\/strong><\/a> \u2026 awaiting trial on several dozen<\/strong><\/a> sex abuse charges.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n