Jelani Maraj is reportedly facing rape charges on Long Island for sexually assaulting a minor.
- December 4, 2015
AceShowbiz -
Nicki Minaj's 37-year-old brother is facing serious criminal charges. According to a scoop from Newsday, Jelani Maraj was arraigned on Thursday, December 3 on a first-degree rape charge and first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child.
Details of the incident are kept under wraps, but the alleged victim is reportedly 12 years old. Jelani was charged on Long Island but has since been released from a Nassau County jail on $100,000 bail. He is due to return to court on December 9.
Nicki whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj has close bonds with her siblings that include a little sister named Ming Maraj and two other brothers named Brandon Lamar and Micaiah Maraj. Back in August, the femcee reportedly splurged $30,000 on Jelani's wedding to his wife Jacqueline Robinson.
"I would cross the ocean for u," she captioned a picture of them hugging. "I would go & bring u the moon. Promise u. For u I will. I love my brother so much man. Can't believe I cried during his wedding and his first dance like a punk. May God bless him and his union. Tonight has been one of my favorite nights of all time. I do anything to see my brothers smile."
Nicki hasn't commented on her brother's rape allegations, but she once told Complex magazine about her role in her family. "I've always taken control and tried to lead and tried to be the one to help my family stay on the right path," she said. "When I'm not there, and something doesn't work out, I always think to myself, 'if I was there, this wouldn't have happened.' "
