Jelani Maraj is a Trinidad and Tobago-born convicted rapist and paedophile presently facing up to life in prison in New York, USA. His trial drew extensive media attention since he is the brother of rapper and pop artist Onika Tanya Maraj, better known as Nicki Minaj.
Maraj, who was born in Port of Spain, and his siblings came to The Bronx in New York City in 1988 to live with their mother, who had migrated there before them. He grew up there and saw his sister’s dramatic climb to fame. According to all accounts, he was also a successful entrepreneur.
He managed the Ozone Park Daycare in Queens and has plans to open another one in New Jersey. Maraj was arrested and accused of raping an 11-year-old child at his Long Island residence in late 2015.
He was convicted of the charges in a Nassau County courtroom in New York in November 2017, and he faces up to 25 years in prison. The presiding judge ordered a jury misconduct investigation in the case in October 2018.
Jelani Maraj: Where is Nicki Minaj brother now?
According to the Nassau County District Attorney, Jelani Maraj, Nicki Minaj’s older brother, has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for repeatedly raping his stepdaughter, who was only 11 years old when the abuse began.
