Driver In Death Of Rapper Nicki Minaj's Father Sentenced To Jail

MINEOLA, NY — The man responsible for a hit-and-run crash that killed rapper Nicki Minaj's father was sentenced Wednesday to one year in jail.

Charles Polevich, 71, of Mineola, was handed down the sentence in Nassau County after admitting to leaving the scene of a crash in February 2021 that killed 64-year-old Robert Maraj. As part of his sentence, Polevich was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and had his driver's license suspended for six months, according to CBS New York.

Police say Maraj was walking along Roslyn Road in Mineola when Polevich struck him with his car.

Polevich, who splits his time between Mineola and Guam, asked Maraj if "he was OK" as he lay on the road, before getting back in his car and leaving the scene, court records show. Maraj was eventually taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Detectives eventually tracked down Polevich — who did not have a prior criminal history — using pieces of surveillance video from the neighborhood that caught his Volvo before and after it struck Maraj, authorities said.

At the time of his arrest, Nassau County Det. Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick said Polevich "was absolutely aware" that he hit Maraj.

In May 2022, Polevich pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an auto accident with a fatality and tampering with evidence.