In one of the most disturbing stories of the year, Jelani Maraj, older brother of rapper Nicki Minaj, was found guilty Thursday of predatory sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child in a nearly three-week-long rape case.
As previously reported by The Root, Maraj, 38, stood accused of repeatedly raping his stepdaughter starting when she was 11 years old.
The now-14-year-old victim testified during the trial on Long Island, N.Y., that the assaults began in April 2015. They ended in November 2015 when her 8-year-old brother walked in and caught Maraj in the act; the victim’s brother also testified at the trial.
During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence saying that they found pajama pants belonging to the young girl with Maraj’s semen on them, but his defense team said that the victim and her mother planted the evidence in a scheme to extort $25 million from Nicki Minaj.
Newsday reports that Maraj faces 25 years to life and will be sentenced Dec. 14.