Nicki Minaj's brother convicted of raping stepdaughter

Portia Arthur

November 10, 2017 12:59 PM

Jelani Maraj, the 38-year-old brother of Nicki Minaj, was convicted Thursday of raping his stepdaughter.

Jelani Maraj, the brother of rapper Nicki Minaj, was convicted on Thursday, November 10, 2017, for raping his stepdaughter.

Jurors in Nassau County, N.Y. deliberated on the issue for more than two days before they convicted the 38-year-old for raping the 11-year-old girl on multiple occasions at his Long Island home.

He was charged with the crime in 2015 and found guilty at Nassau County court, New York, this week.

Maraj's defense attorney, David Schwartz, argued that Jacqueline Maraj, the mother of the victim who divorced Maraj last year, made-up the allegations in an effort to extort $25 million from Maraj's famous sister, Nicki Minaj.

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But the victim, who is now 14, testified during the trial and said Maraj repeatedly raped her and would beat her if she refused his advances. Her 10-year-old brother also testified and said he walked in on Maraj sexually abusing his sister.

Maraj faces the potential of 25 years to life in prison and set to be sentenced on 14 December.

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Portia Arthur