In March 2020, the 43-year-old Petty registered with the California Megan’s Law database, which tracks local sex offenders in California, where he and Minaj currently live with their infant son, and had his charges dropped by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office. But he still faced federal charges from the Department of Justice — which this plea deal addresses. Petty is now scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 24, 2022.
The New York State department labels Petty as a level-two sex offender, which deems him of having a moderate risk of a repeat offense, after he was convicted of attempted rape in the first degree in 1994.
United States attorney Tracy L. Wilkison and assistant U.S. attorney Sarah E. Gerdes represented the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, while Michael A. Goldstein, Hagop Kuyumjian and Meghan A. Blanco were the attorneys for Petty.
Last month, Jennifer Hough, the woman who accused Petty of rape in 1994, filed a lawsuit against Minaj and Petty, accusing the couple of “witness intimidation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, harassment, assault, battery, sexual assault, and sexual harassment.”
Minaj announced on Thursday that she was pulling out from performing at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. “I just pulled out. I’ll explain why another day. But I love those guys at MTV. thank you Bruce. I love you so much. Next year we there baby,” she tweeted in response to an inquiring fan.