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A singer has just filed a lawsuit claiming she was sexually molested when she was just 14 by her producer/agent/mentor.

The lawsuit does not mention the name of the girl or the alleged perpetrator. It claims she recorded an album in 2005 when she was 14, and she was signed to a 7-album deal. The lawsuit claims the entertainment company she worked with is "one of the most beloved, best-known and most valuable companies in the history of the world."

She says she was introduced to a man who was assigned to be her day-to-day producer/mentor/agent.

She says he became very controlling and the relationship changed. She claims in the lawsuit he began telling her he loved her and they were soulmates. She says he also made negative comments about her looks and weight.

She says he would rub and fondle her genitals and her body, digitally penetrate her and he would orally copulate her and forced her to do the same to him. She also claims they had intercourse, both vaginally and anally. On one occasion she claims she was drugged before anal intercourse.

She claims the man spent a significant amount of time with her mom to "groom" her.

The girl says the sexual abuse continued for 2 years ... on occasion at Staples Center, a music video set on the Warner Bros. lot, hotels, cars on public streets and other places.

Jeffrey Epstein's death last Saturday has rocked the facility where he hanged himself, but it has also raised the ire of the judge in his criminal case.

Federal Judge Richard Berman sent a letter to the warden of the Metropolitan Correctional Center -- obtained by TMZ -- in which he says ... "Thank you for your letter of August 10, 2019 regarding the death of Jeffrey Epstein. Mr. Epstein's death is a tragedy to everyone involved in his case."

The Judge then goes on to challenge the Warden ... "One open question, among others, is whether the investigations referenced in your letter will include the incident at MCC involving Mr. Epstein on or about July 23, 2019. To my knowledge, it has never been definitively explained what the BOP concluded about that incident."

Todd Chrisley and his wife, Julie, are not running from the law -- instead they're facing their tax evasion case head on, one day after the feds indicted them.

The "Chrisley Knows Best" stars surrendered Wednesday morning to the FBI in Atlanta, where there were open warrants for their arrest. According to local reports, the Chrisleys came in on their own accord and were taken into custody. They're set to appear in court later Wednesday ... presumably for a bond hearing.

As we reported ... the Chrisleys were slapped with the multi-count indictment Tuesday, alleging years of tax evasion, bank fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy between 2007 and 2012. The feds claim the couple ran a scheme in which they swindled banks out of millions of dollars in loans by providing fraudulent info -- not to mention screwing the public by dodging federal taxes on the money they earned. Their accountant was indicted as well.

The couple put out a lengthy statement shortly before the charges became public, denying any wrongdoing and trying to explain what exactly happened ... in their eyes, anyway.

Todd and Julie say a former employee of theirs is the one who was carrying out the financial crimes -- without their knowledge. They say they have nothing to hide.

R. Kelly wants to change up his legal team ... by bringing on one of the most powerful, successful criminal defense lawyers in the country ... Tom Mesereau.

Sources familiar with the case tell TMZ ... Mesereau is in Chicago right now, meeting with Kelly, who is charged with various sex crimes in 4 different jurisdictions -- Illinois State, Illinois Federal, New York Federal and Minnesota State. Raed Shalabi -- one of R. Kelly's current attorneys -- accompanied Mesereau into the jail to meet with Kelly behind bars.

In case you don't know ... Mesereau has worked miracles in the courtroom. He got Michael Jackson acquitted of child molestation in 2005, and got Robert Blake acquitted of murdering his wife, also back in 2005.

We're told Mesereau has not officially signed on, but that's the plan. If he does, he will be the lead attorney and possibly the sole attorney representing Kelly.

The big question ... how's Kelly paying his legal and other bills? As you know, he's struggled to pay child support and was even jailed for a time before someone footed the bill.

A$AP Rocky did not beat the rap in Sweden, because the judges in his assault case have found him guilty ... but he will NOT have to go to prison.

The 4 judges in the case issued their written ruling Wednesday ... concluding A$AP was guilty of assaulting a man during a street fight in Stockholm. The judges said Rocky, and his 2 friends who were also standing trial, "were not in a situation where they were entitled to self-defense."

The case hinged on whether A$AP threw a bottle at the victim during the all-out brawl in late June. Prosecutors argued Rocky hurled the bottle and badly cut the guy, but they couldn't produce a single witness who saw a bottle fly during the melee. Rocky conceded he was holding a bottle for protection, but put it down and it never made contact with the guy.

The judges said prosecutors did not prove the bottle was used to hit the victim. As a result, the judges said the crime did not warrant any further time served, and added Rocky will NOT have to do community service.

Rocky got a suspended sentence ... meaning he'll have to pay various fees and fines, and if he does he's in the clear. The judges felt Rocky and his co-defendants got ample punishment already with time served -- 1 month in a Swedish jail.

The upshot ... the court found hitting and kicking the victim while he was on the ground was a crime -- namely, assault -- because A$AP and his crew were not in danger of imminent harm, but prosecutors failed to prove the biggest issue ... that A$AP struck the victim with a bottle, and that's why he got no jail time.

A$AP and the co-defendants will, however, have to pay restitution to the victim, and also cover Sweden's court expenses.

As we reported, the alleged victim was the initial aggressor, harassing Rocky and his crew despite pleas from the rapper to leave them alone. The guy also attacked Rocky's bodyguard before A$AP took care of business.

A$AP was jailed for a month, and 3/4 of that time spent behind bars was before he was even charged. A$AP never claimed his arrest was racially motivated ... but his mom and G-Eazy had a different view.

The case became an international incident -- claims of racism and inhumane conditions in the jail. President Trump intervened ... but that didn't sit well with the Swedish Prime Minister who told him to butt out.

After a month in jail and a 3-day trial, the judges allowed Rocky to fly home to the states while they decided his fate. Prosecutors wanted Rocky to remain in jail pending the verdict, because they said he was a flight risk.

A$AP blew out of Sweden on a private jet, and was gleeful when he touched down at LAX.

As we reported ... Rocky performed last weekend at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA for the first time since his arrest and told his fans, "Hopefully I'm not guilty and hopefully we ain't gotta go back to jail or nothing like that."

Rocky seemed to indicate he would have returned to Sweden to do the time if found guilty -- however, that won't be an issue.

Jeffrey Epstein continues to be dogged by sexual abuse allegations in death -- a woman just sued his estate claiming he raped her as a teen ... and she appears to have a case thanks to a new state law.

32-year-old Jennifer Araoz just filed suit against Epstein's estate, as well as one of his alleged conspirators, Ghislaine Maxwell, claiming the billionaire financier sexually abused her for more than a year, culminating in an alleged brutal rape around 2002 at his NYC home. She's also suing 3 other women, including Epstein's secretary and his maid, claiming they were all in on the plot.

In the suit, obtained by TMZ, Araoz says Maxwell helped poach her from her high school, where she says she facilitated staking out young girls, and made them available to Epstein in 2001 at the age of 14. Araoz claims Epstein eventually invited her into his personal massage room where he asked her to partially disrobe and give him a massage, which she did.

The woman alleges he made a habit for a full year of finishing the massages by turning over and masturbating while grabbing her breast -- paying her $300 each time. One day, she claims he asked her to fully disrobe and sit on his stomach during the massage ... and then, suddenly, forced his penis inside her without a condom.

After that, Araoz says she cut off all communication with Epstein. Now, she's got an opportunity to go after damages in civil court due to a new New York law ... a law which gives victims of sexual abuse when they were minors a 1-year window from February 2019 to February 2020 to file a civil lawsuit -- regardless of when the alleged abuse took place. This is a one-time only law.

Araoz detailed her allegations earlier this summer on national television -- but the law gives her a chance to have them heard in court ... in front of a judge.

Todd and Julie Chrisley are now under federal indictment for tax evasion and fraud, but the reality stars say they knew the charges were coming and insist they did nothing wrong.

A federal grand jury in Atlanta indicted Todd and Julie Tuesday on multiple counts of conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion. The couple's accountant, Peter Tarantino, was also indicted on tax-related offenses.

The U.S. Attorney's Office claims Todd and Julie defrauded banks by fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in loans, and also claims the couple cheated taxpayers by actively evading federal taxes on the money they earned.

According to prosecutors, Todd and Julie ran the scheme from 2007 through 2012, allegedly fabricating documents and providing false information to banks when applying for and receiving millions of dollars in loans ... which they allegedly used to fund their lavish lifestyle.

According to the indictment, Todd allegedly worked with a partner to make it look like one of his bank accounts had $4 million, when they actually didn't even have an account at that bank at the time. The feds claim Todd emailed his partner, "You are a f***ing genious [sic]!!!! Just make it show 4 mil+."

As for Julie's role ... the feds claim she fabricated multiple financial documents by physically cutting and gluing or taping them together. According to the indictment, Todd allegedly told someone he was working with to "find a crooked accountant."

A school Bill and Melinda Gates have supported by donating millions of dollars is being sued over a horrific bullying incident, which allegedly left a 12-year-old boy with permanent brain damage.

TMZ has obtained video of the incident, which is extremely difficult to watch. It was shot at the Animo Westside Charter Middle School in L.A., near LAX.

The boy's mother is suing the school and Green Dot, the org that oversees the school. The Gates are not being sued.

You see the boy right outside the school, when a bully from the school punches him and then puts him in a chokehold, which seems to last around 20 seconds. Notice in the video ... a staffer walks by but seems unconcerned by what is happened right next to her. She never helps ... just walks away.

The boy goes limp, apparently losing consciousness, and the bully becomes alarmed ... realizing what he had done.

The bully then helps the injured student by bringing him inside one of the buildings so he can drink some water. The boy then goes limp again and then loses consciousness. A staffer brings him into an office and lays him out on the floor. The blinds close and the paramedics arrive.

The lawsuit -- filed by attorney Ben Meiselas of Geragos & Geragos -- claims the boy suffered a seizure shortly after the incident and he now has permanent brain damage. According to the lawsuit, he suffered a hypoxic-ischemic brain injury -- a lack of oxygen to the brain. He now has significant learning disabilities and will likely need treatment for the remainder of his life.

The boy's mother told LAPD she did not want to press criminal charges against the bully because he was "a mere child." All she wanted was him expelled from the school, but according to the lawsuit he was not removed from the school and the lawsuit claims, he "continues to pose a threat to the safety and lives of other students."

The lawsuit asks for unspecified damages.

Aaron Carter isn't taking any chances with an ex-girlfriend he says threatened to stab him with a knife ... he was just granted a restraining order against the woman.

Aaron filed for a restraining order Monday in L.A. County Superior Court against Lina Valentina -- his ex who cops recently named as a suspect in a domestic violence report.

According to the docs, Aaron says Lina threatened to stab him several times and carries a knife with her. He claims she physically abused him during their relationship, shoving him and hitting him in the face.

TMZ broke the story ... police took a report for an alleged incident between Aaron and Lina that went down July 31 around 2 AM at the singer's Lancaster pad. Our sources say Aaron told cops she slapped him in the face, leaving a bruise on his cheek.

The alleged incident happened only days before Aaron confirmed his split with Lina.

Ex-"Deadliest Catch" star Jake Harris has been behind bars ever since his January arrest ... and it would behoove him to get comfy 'cause he's gonna be there a while longer.

According to legal docs obtained by TMZ ... Harris was sentenced to 18 months in Skagit County Corrections following his arrest on 2 felony charges ... driving under the influence and possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance ... heroin.

As we reported ... Harris led state troopers on a chase in Skagit County, Washington when he took off with his RV. Cops say they noticed signs of drug use after they pulled him over -- pinpoint pupils, bloodshot eyes and a pale face. He was arrested and pled guilty to the 2 felony charges.

'Bachelor' creator Mike Fleiss THOUGHT he settled his divorce case with wife Laura Kaeppeler, but turns out it's still raging, because Mike paid her $10 mil, she took the kid out of state and she's not communicating with him.

TMZ broke the story ... Mike and Laura settled their divorce case late last month ... he agreed to pay her $10 million, they agreed to 50/50 joint legal and physical custody of their 4-year-old son, Ben, and she agreed to drop her domestic violence restraining request against him.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Mike paid her the cash, and on August 4 she left for Hawaii and went radio silent. He has tried to communicate with her, to no avail. He has not been able to see or speak with Ben since she left.

According to the agreement, Laura is allowed to live in Hawaii, but she has certain obligations. She's supposed to meet with renowned psychologist Stan Katz to figure out effective co-parenting, but according to the legal docs she has not set up an appointment to meet with him.

Fleiss planned to fly to Hawaii August 13, which is when he's entitled to get Ben for custodial time, but he's now in the dark because she won't communicate with him.

Fleiss' lawyer, disso queen Laura Wasser, has filed papers to get some action from the judge, but the hearing was set for late September. We're told they're hopeful they can work things out with Kaeppeler -- especially a co-parenting plan -- but it seems that may not happen easily.

Sources close to Kaeppeler say Fleiss went to court for an emergency order Monday but the judge denied it because it was not an emergency ... in part because the child lives in Hawaii. The sources say they're already working with Stan Katz.

Cardi B, French Montana, Yo Gotti, City Girls and Master P all sampled a beat in some of their most famous tracks but when it came time to pay the DJ who created it, they went radio silent ... so claims the DJ in a lawsuit.

Kirk Edwards -- who goes by DJ JMK -- is suing the rappers claiming he produced a beat Master P famously rapped over in 2002. JMK says his track, "Choppa Style," has over 9 million streams on YouTube, and a small chunk of that track has been sampled in other notable tracks.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ, Cardi B and City Girls sampled a portion of 'Choppa' last year for their mega hit, "Twerk." JMK also says Yo Gotti and French Montana did it on "Oh Yeah" in 2017.

Specifically, JMK says he should have been paid for the samples, but never got his dough.

JMK -- who said he made the instrumental in November 2000 and played it at clubs where he DJ'd -- says the rappers have all "misappropriated many of the recognizable and key protected elements" of his work. He's now suing for copyright infringement.

A$AP Rocky's first live show since his arrest overseas proves he still has swagger, showmanship and bravado -- but he's also been humbled, and his fired-up fans gave Sweden an earful.

Rocky performed Sunday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, where he was headlining the annual Real Street Festival -- which also featured Cardi B, Future, Migos, 2 Chainz, Big Sean and lots of other superstars. A$AP brought out some special guests himself -- A$AP Ferg, Tyler the Creator, and YG were just a few.

In this footage from his set, A$AP shared some of his experiences in Sweden with the crowd and thanked them for continued support.

You can tell the audience wasn't happy over his predicament ... they literally chanted "F*** Sweden" at one point in the show, and Rocky didn't try to stop them. He did clarify that he's got nothing against Swedish people, though -- sounds like some Swedes there were holding it down and demanding his release, just like folks here at home.

Before he bowed out, Rocky asked the crowd to pray for him before a verdict is reached this coming Wednesday in his assault case -- which wrapped up about 10 days ago, giving Rocky a chance to finally fly home.

He was ecstatic to be home, and has been keeping busy with some of his staunchest supporters in the days he's been back.

Candytopia's marshmallow pit is shallower than the social media posts -- for which it's popular -- according to a visitor who says he learned the hard way ... DON'T JUMP IN!!!

The interactive candy museum is being sued by a guy who claims he jumped into the marshmallow pit exhibit -- which he says looks deceivingly like a deep swimming pool -- and SHATTERED HIS FOOT.

According to a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ ... the man claims he went to Candytopia in San Francisco earlier this year with his fiance, and museum employees actively encouraged him to hop into the marshmallow pit.

Problem is ... the guy says the pit has the look and feel of a swimming pool, complete with a familiar style in-ground swimming pool ladder, but no one told him there wasn't a deep end. The only warning he says he got was to hold on to his cell phone -- which he claims made it sound like the pit was at least waist-deep.

In the docs, the dude says as a result of his injuries he had to wear a walking boot ... and he claims his broken foot ruined his wedding and his doctor told him he'll likely suffer foot pain for the rest of his life!!!

Now, he's going after Candytopia for damages and looking for a sweet payday. If he's awarded a pool of money ... we're guessing he won't dive in.

Jeffrey Epstein's death may never be conclusively determined, because we're told standard practice in the area where he was detained is that cameras do not point inside cells.

Sources familiar with the correctional facility in question tell TMZ, there are cameras in the Special Housing Unit -- the SHU -- but SOP is that cameras do not point into the cells. We're told cameras capture, among other things, the doors to each cell to determine if anyone walks in or out, but they don't point inside.

One source familiar with the facility says the drill is for guards to pass by each cell in intervals ranging from 15 to 30 minutes depending on the circumstances.

Unless there's a one-off cell with a camera pointing inside -- and we're told there have been rare situations where this is the case -- the time and manner of his death may never be captured.

Our sources did, however, make it clear ... since Epstein was taken off suicide watch there were plenty of ways he could have hung himself. There are sheets, blankets, t-shirts and there are objects -- including beds -- on which the items can be tied to facilitate suffocation.

Our sources all agree on one thing ... the fatal flaw was taking someone off suicide watch days after they believe he may have attempted to take his own life. It is baffling, disturbing and suspicious that medical professionals and officials at the correctional center would clear someone as high-profile, notorious and important as Epstein.

Epstein's death Saturday morning appears to be a suicide by hanging, but no one in an official capacity has categorized it as such.

"Black Ink Crew" boss Ceaser Emanuel might be licensed to run a tattoo shop in the Big Apple -- but, apparently, he isn't licensed to drive there ... according to cops, anyway.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Ceaser (real name David Emanuel) was arrested Friday in NYC after police officers say they witnessed him blow a red light and fail to yield to pedestrians while driving through a residential neighborhood in Brooklyn.

We're told the officers immediately pulled him over, and asked him to produce a license. Our sources say he handed one over that read "Emanuel Thomas" with a date of birth that was off by 8 years, saying he was born in June 1971 ... as opposed to his real DOB, 1979.

Sources also tell us Ceaser failed to produce a valid insurance card, so he was arrested on the spot and booked for misdemeanor false impersonation and other traffic violations.

Ceaser runs the Black Ink shop in New York, where the hit VH1 reality series began in 2013. It's gone strong for 7 seasons, and its 8th is set to air in just a few days. The show has also spawned two spin-offs, one in Chicago and another in Compton.

It's unclear if cameras were rolling while Ceaser was getting busted -- presumably, VH1 is all wrapped up with filming the 8th season. What's that saying about publicity again though?