Man Who Killed Nicki Minaj's Dad in a Hit-and-Run Is Sentenced to One Year in Jail

Mar. 15, 2025

Nicki Minaj, Charles Maraj.Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images; Nicki Minaj/Instagram

The man who fatally struckNicki Minaj’s father in ahit-and-run accidentin New York in 2021 has been sentenced to one year in jail, PEOPLE confirms.

Charles Polevich, 71, was sentenced Wednesday following the death of Charles Maraj, 64, whom he hit with his Volvo on Long Island in February 2021.NewsdayandTMZwere first to report the news.

Polevich must also pay a $5,000 fine and will have his driver’s license suspended, a spokesperson for the Nassau County Courthouse confirms.

Nicki Minaj, 39,said shortly after losing her fatherthat his death was “the most devastating loss” of her life.

“Tho I can’t really bring myself to discuss the passing of my father as yet; I can say it has been the most devastating loss of my life,” she wrote on her website in May 2021. “I find myself wanting to call him all the time. More so now that he’s gone. Life is funny that way.”

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Maraj died in the hospital one day after the incident, during which Polevich struck him with his 1992 Volvo station wagon as he walked in Mineola, New York. Police later said that Polevich was “absolutely aware of what happened” in the accident, but fled the scene anyway.

“He got out of the car, looked at the deceased, got into his car and made the conscious decision to leave instead of dialing 911 and calling an ambulance for the man. He went home and secreted his vehicle,” Nassau County Detective Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick said at a press conference shortly after the incident.

Polevichpleaded guilty in Mayto two felony charges, including leaving the scene of a fatal crash and tampering with physical evidence.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice Howard Sturim told Polevich in May that he would sentence him to “no more than a year in jail,” despite the fact that prosecutors had recommended between one and three years, and he was facing up to 11, according toNewsday.

Sturim’s promise upset Maraj’s wife and Nicki’s mother Carol, who reportedly said she was “not happy with” just one year in jail.

“I was angry, very, very angry,” Carol toldNewsdayof seeing Polevich in court, adding, “I started to shake because it brought back all the memories of that night when I was sitting in the hospital.”

Carolfiled a $150 million lawsuit against Polevichin March 2021, with her lawyer Ben Crump saying at the time that Polevich was “not only irresponsible and negligent, but more concerned about running away and hiding than seeking help.”

Gann said in May that he believed his client may have suffered a “medical emergency” immediately after the crash, and said he had insurance and a good driving record, according toNewsday.

“Mr. Polevich’s life story is one of helping others which makes this case so out of character,” Gann toldBillboard. “There are no allegations of substance use or abuse as causative of his conduct and it is our belief that a medical heart issue contributed to Mr. Polevich’s conduct. Mr. Polevich could not be more sorry for the loss of Mr. Maraj.”

source: people.com