Nicki Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, is a registered sex offender with convictions for attempted rape and first-degree manslaughter who has been in and out of court since marrying the rapper in October 2019. His recent legal record includes a federal conviction for failing to register as a sex offender in California, a probation violation tied to threats against rapper Offset, a pending civil lawsuit from his 1995 sexual assault victim, and a six-figure assault judgment that has put the couple’s Los Angeles-area home at risk.
The 1995 Attempted Rape Conviction
Petty was convicted in 1995 of attempted rape involving a 16-year-old girl, Jennifer Hough. He served roughly four and a half years in prison and was placed on the New York State Sex Offender Registry as a Level 2 (moderate risk) offender, a designation that requires lifetime registration.1USA Today. Nicki Minaj Husband Kenneth Petty Probation Not Registering Sex Offender Federal law requires sex offenders to update that registration in every jurisdiction where they live, work, or attend school.
In early 2023, Petty filed a lawsuit in Brooklyn federal court seeking to remove his name from the registry. The effort collapsed after a 2004 court transcript surfaced showing he had been present at the hearing where his Level 2 status was assigned and had not contested it. His lawyer said the case would be withdrawn.2Audacy. Nicki Minaj’s Husband Tries to Get Name Off as Sex Offender
The 2002 Queens Shooting and Manslaughter Conviction
In April 2002, Petty shot Lamont Robinson multiple times on a street corner in Queens, New York, at around 12:30 a.m. Robinson identified Petty from a photo lineup while hospitalized before dying from his injuries. Investigators suspected the shooting was a targeted killing tied to gang activity.3TMZ. Nicki Minaj Boyfriend Kenneth Petty Manslaughter Initially charged with second-degree murder, Petty pleaded guilty in 2006 to first-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years. He served seven years, was released in May 2013, and remained on supervised release until May 2018.4People. Kenneth Petty, Nicki Minaj Husband: What to Know
Marriage to Nicki Minaj
Minaj and Petty first knew each other as teenagers in Queens and briefly dated while attending LaGuardia High School in the 1990s.5InStyle. Nicki Minaj Husband Kenneth Petty They reconnected in 2018, and Minaj made the relationship public on Instagram that December. They married on October 21, 2019. Their son, whom Minaj refers to publicly by the nickname “Papa Bear,” was born on September 30, 2020. His legal name has not been disclosed.6People. Nicki Minaj Son: Everything to Know
Minaj has defended Petty publicly throughout the marriage. When his sex offender status first drew attention in late 2018, she wrote on Instagram that Petty was 15 and the girl was 16 and that the two had been “in a relationship.” Hough has disputed that account, saying, “It wasn’t true. We both were 16. We were never in a relationship.”7BuzzFeed. Nicki Minaj Kenneth Petty Interview
Federal Conviction for Failing to Register in California
When Petty moved to California with Minaj in July 2019, he did not register as a sex offender there as required by the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. He turned himself in to federal custody in March 2020 after being charged, initially pleaded not guilty, and accepted a plea deal in August 2021.8BBC News. Nicki Minaj Husband Kenneth Petty Sentenced
In July 2022, a federal judge in Los Angeles sentenced Petty to three years of probation, one year of home detention, and a $55,000 fine.9CBS News. Nicki Minaj’s Husband Kenneth Petty Sentencing Sex Offender Registration
Probation Violation Over Threats to Offset
On September 16, 2023, while still on federal probation, Petty posted videos on social media showing him and several associates on a New York City sidewalk outside a hotel where rapper Offset was reportedly staying. In the clips, one of the men with Petty said, “Plan that vacation, you should be planning your funeral.” Petty asked “Offset, where you at?” and threatened to “knock them veneers out.”10Los Angeles Times. Nicki Minaj Husband Kenneth Petty House Arrest Offset Cardi B Threats
Four days later, a federal judge in the Central District of California ordered Petty to serve an additional 120 days of home detention. The court noted he had been “recorded on video making threatening remarks to a specific individual while in the company of someone with a criminal record” and said the conduct “raises concerns” about his willingness to comply with court orders.11People. Nicki Minaj Husband Kenneth Petty Sentenced House Arrest After Violating Probation
By April 2024, Petty was still on probation but was granted court permission to travel internationally from April 17 to July 14, 2024, to accompany Minaj on her Pink Friday World Tour. The order required him to give itineraries to his probation officer, stay in contact, and return to Los Angeles immediately after the tour.12People. Nicki Minaj Husband Kenneth Petty Granted Permission to Travel for Pink Friday World Tour
The Jennifer Hough Civil Lawsuit
In August 2021, Hough sued both Petty and Minaj in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Her complaint alleged witness intimidation, harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and assault and battery. She said Minaj and Petty pressured her to recant her rape accusation so Petty could be removed from the registry. According to the complaint, an associate of the couple visited Hough’s home and offered her $20,000 for her silence; after she refused, she said she received a message telling her she “should’ve taken the money because they are going to put that money on my head.”13USC Annenberg Media. Survivor Jennifer Hough Speaks Out Against Nicki Minaj, Kenneth Petty
In October 2021, the Clerk of Court entered a default against Petty for failing to appear or defend, though an attorney later filed an appearance on his behalf. On January 12, 2022, Hough voluntarily dismissed her claims against Minaj without prejudice, retaining the right to refile, and her legal team said at a January 20, 2022 hearing that they planned to refile against Minaj in California.14Complex. Jennifer Hough Voluntarily Dismisses Harassment Lawsuit Against Nicki Minaj Minaj’s attorney, Judd Burstein, said the defense had spent over $300,000 in legal fees and called the suit a “frivolous” attempt to extort a settlement.15Billboard. Nicki Minaj Dropped From Harassment Lawsuit No financial settlement was reported in connection with the dismissal.
The claims against Petty remain live. Court records show the case was still pending as of June 2026, with no final judgment, settlement, or dismissal entered.16CourtListener. Hough v. Maraj, 1:21-cv-04568
The $503,000 Assault Judgment and Home Levy
A separate case has produced a large unpaid judgment against the couple. In March 2024, a $503,000 default judgment was entered in favor of Thomas Weidenmuller, a security guard who alleged Petty assaulted him in Germany in 2019.17Yahoo Entertainment. Nicki Minaj Home Hit With Levy When the judgment went unpaid, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department placed a levy on Minaj and Petty’s Hidden Hills, California, home in September 2025. On October 6, 2025, Weidenmuller filed a motion asking a court to order the property sold to satisfy the debt.18The Real Deal. Nicki Minaj’s Hidden Hills Home Could Be Seized Over Debt
The house is an 11,820-square-foot property with 11 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms, purchased in December 2022 for $19.5 million and appraised at $20 million. After a $13.3 million mortgage and a homestead exemption, the property held roughly $6 million in equity.19Page Six. Nicki Minaj at Risk of Losing $20M Los Angeles Home Over Assault Debt Battle Minaj said on X in October 2025 that she had not known about the case, claiming it had been routed to a former business manager who did not tell her and who she alleged had previously stolen from her.17Yahoo Entertainment. Nicki Minaj Home Hit With Levy