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Jelani Maraj, r., attend 2015 Dress For Success Something To Share Gala at Grand Hyatt New York on April 16, 2015 in New York City with his mother Carol Maraj (c) and Micaiah Maraj. (Photo by Chance Yeh/Getty Images)

News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Fri. Nov. 10, 2017: The brother of Trinidad-born rapper Nicki Minaj could face up to life in prison after being found guilty Thursday of predatory sexual assault on a child younger than 13 years old.

A jury had begun deliberating in the case Wednesday against Jelani Maraj, 38 who was accused of repeatedly raping an 11-year-old girl at his home in Baldwin, a Long Island suburb.

Maraj’s lawyers said during a nearly one-month trial that the rape allegations were concocted by the girl’s mother as part of a scheme to get Nicki Minaj to pay the family $25 million in hush money.

In closing arguments Monday, Nassau County Assistant District Attorney Emma Slane called that claim “absolute absurdity.”

The girl, now 14, testified in excruciating detail about sexual assaults that she said occurred as frequently as four times a week and sometimes twice a day, mostly when Maraj was home alone with the girl.

Maraj is now being held at the Nassau County Jail until his upcoming sentencing.

Minaj has not commented on the case.

Guess Who Jamaican American Sean Kingston Is Telling On?

They say gentlemen don’t tell or give any secrets away but Jamaican American Sean Kingston is doing both. Kingston paid a visit to BBC Radio 1’s Smashed With Sloth and discussed the most famous person he’s ever been with sexually.

It turned out to be Serena Williams, whom he said he used to date several years ago and always thought highly of her. He stated that Williams visited him for six days when he was in that nasty jet ski accident in 2011 as well. Kingston also said the nine year difference between he and Williams played a part in their eventual breakup.

The last time Kingston said he communicated with Williams is when she announced that she was having a baby with Reddit’s founder Alexis Ohanian. He sent the 23-time grand slam winner a text after the news, and the two exchanged well wishes.

SOJA Jumps To #1 On The Billboard Charts

Virginia-based Grammy-nominated reggae band SOJA, has jumped from 8 to #1 on the Billboard Reggae Charts this week with ‘Poetry In Motion.’ The album features songs like ‘Moving Stones,’ ‘I Can’t Stop Dreaming’ and ‘Tried My Best.’ It is the group’s 8th album.

 

 

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