Entertainment

Nicki Minaj's Brother Charged With Raping A Minor

by Michelle McGahan

According to documents from Nassau County First District Court, Nicki Minaj's brother Jelani Maraj has been charged with raping a minor. Maraj, 37, was arraigned on Thursday, Dec. 3 and is facing first-degree rape and first-degree course of conduct against a child (a Newsday source claims that the victim is 12). Bustle has reached out to Maraj's lawyer, Andrea Zellan, for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

According to the Huffington Post, the incident occurred on April 1 and Maraj was arrested on Dec. 1. A Nassau County District Attorney's office spokesperson told the site that Maraj's bail was set at $100,000. Newsday reports that Maraj made his bail and was released from the Nassau County jail on Thursday. He is due back in court on Dec. 9.

Nicki Minaj has yet to comment on the charges against her brother, but shared their close-knit bond on Instagram after Maraj's August 2015 wedding. On Aug. 22, Maraj married his longtime girlfriend Jacqueline Robinson, Us Weekly reports, and Minaj — who reportedly paid for her brother's wedding — was there to share in the joy of the day.

"Jelani, I love you more than you can ever comprehend," she captioned a photo of the two hugging at the reception.

At the time, Minaj shared another picture from her brother's wedding, this time writing:

I would cross the ocean for u. I would go & bring u the moon. Promise u. For u I will. I love my brother so much man," the rapper wrote. "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.