Crime

Call it a lockdown within the lockdown -- U.S. prisoners will be kept inside their assigned cells for the next 14 days in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons announced Tuesday night its new guideline will go into effect beginning Wednesday ... calling for all inmates in every prison across the nation to be secured in their assigned cells/quarters to decrease the spread of COVID-19.

This is BOP's Phase 5 plan as it desperately tries to combat the outbreak in prisons across America. BOP also says -- to the extent practicable -- inmates will have access to programs and services offered under normal operating procedures, such as mental health treatment and education.

After 14 days, if BOP deems it necessary ... it can choose to extend the lockdown. BOP will also work with U.S. Marshals to "significantly decrease incoming movement" to its prisons.

R. Kelly's firing back at prosecutors who say he shouldn't get released early due to coronavirus risks -- arguing prison is a petri dish, and insisting he can't properly prep for trial from jail.

The singer's legal team filed a reply to the feds' response to Kelly's original motion last week, in which they asked a judge to let R. Kelly out of jail on bond ... mainly because he feared coming down with COVID-19.

Uncle Sam's responded ... R. Kelly isn't old enough (65 or older) to be considered high-risk. They also said a recent surgery he had doesn't make him more susceptible to the virus. On top of all that, the feds say R. Kelly's been provided with plenty of soap and cleaning supplies.

Kelly claims that's not the case, especially for other inmates to whom he might be exposed. The feds say MCC Chicago is up to snuff with CDC guidelines and adds that no one at the jail has tested positive.

R. Kelly's attorney, Steven Greenberg, isn't buying prosecutors' logic. In the new docs he says prison is basically a breeding ground for bacteria, and it's only a matter of time before someone gets the virus and spreads it like wildfire.

He also says his client is being deprived of his right to prep for trial because he can't meet face-to-face with his lawyers. MCC Chicago's banned all visitors due to the pandemic. Greenberg says inmates there are fighting for phone time, and they're having a hard time getting ahold of him.

The fear is real near the ritzy Rodeo Drive in L.A. -- shops are not only clearing their shelves of high-end merch ... they're also boarding up their stores, as you can see here.

Check out these shots TMZ got of the Pottery Barn in Beverly Hills -- off of Beverly Dr. and Dayton Way, right near Rodeo -- with construction workers putting up giants slabs of plywood and other material to completely cover their storefront windows facing the street.

It's kinda eerie and pretty clear -- it's being done to protect the store from would-be looters crazy enough to break in. The workers told us it was a temporary measure this specific PB was taking in anticipation of bad actors. Also, because it looks like they're going to be closed for a good long while here amid the outbreak.

Pottery Barn isn't the only furniture shop out in that neighborhood that seems to be worried about robberies and the like -- we got a glimpse of a West Elm store just around the corner that had its windows boarded up too. Only there's were way longer than Pottery's.

Because of the layout of the store, West Elm's row of boards ran the length of about half that block.

Besides that, several other luxury brand boutiques and retail stores have taken similar precautions of late as soon as city-wide and state-wide shutdown orders were placed.

Take Chanel, Prada, Balenciaga, Dior, Valentino and other designer brands along the strip ... photos of their store shelves being completely empty have been floating around online for a few days now. The whole area is an essential ghost town, and after Trump's announcement that these quarantine measures will be in place until April 30, it sounds like some businesses are getting ahead of a potential panic that could hit the streets.

Cops in California will not be cutting speeders a break because of the highly-contagious coronavirus -- they're still pulling 'em over, but with some added protection.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the pandemic and state orders to stay home mean there's a lot less traffic on the freeways, but California Highway Patrol officers are still out there ready to bust people for speeding and other violations.

We're told the lack of cars on the road doesn't mean accidents go away, and it's still the CHP's job to keep residents safe ... which also means they're still cracking down on texting while driving and DUI's. There's no leniency at all there.

However, officers do want to be safe from COVID-19. Our sources say officers are wearing gloves while handing out tickets or interacting with motorists ... and trying to maintain social-distancing protocol as much as possible.

We broke the story ... the LAPD decided to stop nailing people with almost all parking violations in consideration of the city's coronavirus shutdown, and is also laying off of busting people for expired registrations, tags and driver's licenses.

We're told the CHP is taking this into consideration as well ... and it's willing to cut drivers some slack as long as expirations aren't years old.

More than anything, though ... our sources say "attitude is everything." CHP officers are using discretion and are willing to work with motorists as long as they're cooperative during this crazy time.

And, no -- cops aren't pulling people over just to ask where they're going to make sure they're following the "safer-at-home rules". Still, follow the rules -- not to avoid tickets, but for everyone's health.

Luka Jovic -- a star striker for Real Madrid -- broke quarantine last week in order to see his model girlfriend ... and now, officials say he's facing jail time for the reckless move.

Jovic, along with the rest of his teammates, were advised to stay in two-week isolation in Spain earlier this month after a Real Madrid basketball player tested positive for coronavirus.

For good reason, there have been more than 2,800 deaths and 40,000 cases in Spain alone since the pandemic began.

But, Jovic reportedly broke quarantine in order to fly back home to Serbia to see his pregnant girlfriend, Sofija Milosevic, last Thursday ... and now, authorities in his homeland are PISSED that he didn't isolate properly.

President Aleksandar Vucic has reportedly claimed the 22-year-old soccer star is under investigation ... and could face time behind bars for the move.

Serbian prime minister Ana Brnabic reportedly added after learning of the incident, "We have negative examples of football stars who earn millions abroad and when they come back to Serbia, they don't self-isolate as is obligatory."

For his part, Jovic has called the whole thing a misunderstanding, saying he wasn't aware of Serbian's quarantine policy ... and claims he even tested negative for COVID-19 twice.

"While in Spain, I tested negative for coronavirus, and I decided to travel to Serbia to help and support our people and be close to my family, in agreement with my club," Jovic reportedly wrote on social media.

"When I landed in Serbia, I again tested negative for coronavirus. I am very sorry that some people did their job unprofessionally and did not give me the correct instructions on how to behave in self-isolation."

"In Spain, I was allowed to go to a pharmacy and a supermarket so I could get the groceries I needed, which is not the case here. I apologise to everyone if I have endangered them in some way and I hope that together we can manage to overcome all this."

Jovic signed a 6-year deal to play for Real Madrid in 2019. He and Milosevic have reportedly been dating for less than a year.

Police in 2 of America's biggest cities on lockdown are concerned coronavirus guidelines might also bring a rise in crime ... but they're ready to crack down.

TMZ spoke with several law enforcement sources in both L.A. and NYC, and we've been told cops are on high alert for scumbags looking to take advantage of the situation ... especially potential burglars.

Truth is, with so many businesses shut down ... retail shops, offices, clubs, bars, restaurants, liquor stores and more are extra vulnerable to break-ins. Not only are empty stores ripe for burglaries, but with hardly anybody on the streets ... there are no witnesses to thwart perps or help bust 'em, especially at night.

Because of this, our L.A. law enforcement sources say it's increasing patrols and police visibility all over the city and county, adding undercover units and keeping in contact with owners of establishments and community leaders as much as possible.

We're told officers in NYC have similarly been instructed to keep an eye out for wannabe burglars ... particularly during the overnight hours between midnight and 5 AM.

However, our NYPD sources say although there is a high-level of concern for a crime wave ... it's too early to tell if there's a spike. Regardless, we're told cops are doing everything in their power to keep businesses safe during this already difficult time.

R. Kelly is a man truly trapped now that coronavirus lockdowns are in full swing -- he can't get to his lawyers ... even though prison officials insist it ain't personal.

Kelly's legal team tried going to see their client last Thursday at MCC Chicago -- where he's currently behind bars -- but we're told they were blocked from entering by corrections personnel ... and officials told them it was all due to the COVID-19 outbreak, which has made its way to Chi-Town.

We're told R. Kelly's lawyers not only wanted to check on his well-being but also to talk legal strategy ... something they get together to discuss frequently, especially with the ever-mounting charges against the guy. That's all coming to a temporary halt, for now, it seems.

The last time R. Kelly had a face-to-face with his attorneys was sometime last week. It was right around then that everything started getting canceled.

A rep for the Bureau of Prisons in Illinois tells us ... jail staff is suspending visits for the next 30 days -- but it sounds like they'll allow certain legal meet-ups on a case-by-case basis.

The rep says they're making their determinations with an eye toward avoiding unnecessarily exposing inmates and others. They say they recognize the importance of allowing the inmates access to lawyers and will try to accommodate that to the greatest extent possible.

Circling back to R. Kelly ... we're told his team is trying to work out a schedule to see the singer more often than what's being outlined here. Nothing's set in stone yet though.

The long arm of the law isn't backing down from the highly-contagious coronavirus ... and while cops are taking some precautions, they're just used to facing danger at every turn.

Cops across the country are telling us the same thing ... they're not afraid to arrest and interact with suspects, break up fights or subdue people in the face of a deadly pandemic.

Our law enforcement sources in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami and Green Bay tell us their officers face much bigger dangers every day on the force -- bullets, cars, staph infections etc. -- and most cops are under the age of 55, so they feel less at risk.

Sources tell TMZ ... at the LAPD, COVID-19 is just another occupational hazard, and officers are being instructed to wear gloves and not touch their face. We're told cops are still gonna get hands-on with suspects if they have to -- they're not just gonna let s*** hit the fan -- and the virus won't stop anyone from doing their job.

As we first reported ... one woman's already been arrested for allegedly threatening to cough on a cop and spread the virus.

Our sources tell us L.A. Sheriff's Department deputies are using caution when responding to calls, and if they're not sure how to handle a situation they're being told to call a supervisor. We're told LASD is picking and choosing battles, but if deputies need to get hands-on, they will ... and they're carrying special coronavirus kits.

Law enforcement sources tell us the NYPD has its officers wearing masks and gloves and exercising caution ... but laws still gotta be enforced, and that's what the NYPD is doing.

Our sources also tell us cops in Chicago are also being cautious, but they still have to answer calls and nothing's changed on that front.

Ditto for police in Miami, though sources say cops might not respond to calls where a police report can be taken over the phone. Still, we're told cops will still get in the mix when it's necessary.

Law enforcement sources tell us police in Green Bay are educating themselves on the virus, and they want officers to have access to safety tools like wipes and gloves. In the meantime, cops are taking more reports over the phone and will respond to calls when needed.