Nicki Minaj’s Brother To Spend 25 Years To Life In Prison For Sexually Assaulting His Former Stepdaughter

Nicki Minaj, Jelani Maraj

Nicki Minaj’s Brother To Spend 25 Years To Life In Prison For Sexually Assaulting His Former Stepdaughter

Jelani Maraj, the brother of rapper Nicki Minaj was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison Monday (Jan. 27).

A New York judge, Robert McDonald, ruled the sentencing, according to TMZ. 

Jelani Maraj was previously convicted for predatory sexual assault against a child and endangering the welfare of a child.

Nicki Minaj has been quiet about the claims against her brother. But she did make a post seeming to support him amid the heat of the allegations.

She didn’t take the stand during the trial (which lasted a little more than two weeks). It’s not clear why considering Jelani Maraj’s legal team said the “Megantron” rapper would.

She was also spotted going to visit him in jail in 2017. But that was reportedly to support her and Jelani Maraj’s mother, Carol Maraj.

Carol Maraj, Jelani Maraj

Carol Maraj previously said she was convinced Jelani Maraj didn’t get a fair trial. She said in 2018, according to Atlanta Black Star,

“As soon as the alternate juror was sent away he spoke to the press. He said he would’ve freed Jelani Maraj, because there was no evidence … He said because every piece of clothing and everything that was presented came back negative. [There were jurors] talking about the trial way before it deliberated, even though the judge told them to go home and speak to no one. They totally ignored that there was no evidence to prove this man guilty, so they went by their own mind, their own feelings and they already had him guilty way before the trial ended.”

Jelani Maraj was accused of sexually assaulting his former 12-year-old stepdaughter between April 2015 and November 2015. Her mother was said to be at work at the time. The victim’s brother also said he saw Jelani inappropriately touching the young girl in the home.  Jelani alleged that the claims were an attempt to extort Nicki Minaj for $25 million. Jelani lost his appeal to the conviction last year.

The judge said he failed to meet the

“burden of proof that any misconduct here created a significant risk that a substantial right of the defendant was prejudiced.”

What do you think about the sentencing? Tell us in the comments!