Rapper Lil' Kim was convicted of perjury and conspiracy for telling "preposterous lies to a US federal grand jury" about a 2001 shooting outside a Manhattan radio station.

After two-day deliberation of the jurors, the raunchy star, whose real name is Kimberly Jones, was found guilty of three counts of perjury and one count of conspiring with co-defendant to lie about the gun battle between members of her entourage and a rival rap group. According to prosecutors, some thirty rounds were fired from six guns leaving one man injured. The two men, Jones' manager Damion Butler and member of her rap crew Suif Jackson, pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 10 and 12 years in prison respectively.

30-year-old Jones may face up to 20 years in jail as each count against her carries a maximum sentence of five years.

Although, the singer has told the court she was a victim of the incident which deeply traumatized her, prosecutor Cathy Seibel told a New York court arrogance had made the star lie, quoted by Daily Mirror as saying: "Maybe Kimberly Jones bought into her own image."

"I'm disappointed in the verdict," said the Grammy winner who appeared at the Manhattan Federal Court yesterday wearing a proper bead-studded peach pantsuit and a cleavage-revealing blouse . "However, I was acquitted of the most serious charge, obstruction of justice."

"Throughout my life, I have always lived with adversity," she said, according to New York Daily News. "I will continue to have faith and do good for my family, friends and fans."

Lil' Kim, free on $500,000 bail, will be sentenced on June 24.