Howse was convicted despite testimony from the victim, Tarrance Vickers, that the rapper was a friend who never pulled a gun on him.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 14.

Vickers initially told police that he and Howse had an argument Dec. 26, 1999, over the rapper’s girlfriend. The confrontation took place at Howse’s Woodland Hills, Calif., home where Vickers said Howse pulled an AK-47 out of a crib, loaded it and aimed it at him.

Fred Nelson, Vickers’ brother, also testified that Howse brandished the weapon during the dispute. Howse’s girlfriend, Jennifer Spencer, admitted that he had a gun on that day.

However, defense lawyer Phyllis Brown-Scarlett denied the event ever happened and Vickers took the witness stand to recant the story he had given police.

Jurors didn’t buy Vickers’ new version of the events.

“His story changed from what he told police and what he told the detective to what he said on the stand,” one unidentified juror told the Los Angeles Times.

It was not Howse’s first run-in with the justice system.

The 27-year-old Grammy winner has seven previous convictions for violent crimes – including spousal abuse and assault – since arriving in California from Cleveland in 1998. He pleaded guilty in February 1998 to assault with a deadly weapon for attacking a neighbor in the Los Angeles suburb of Chatsworth.

He is due back in court June 19 to face felony weapons and other charges in a separate case that occurred a week after the incident with Vickers.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony has made four albums, including BTNHResurrection, which sold more than 280,000 copies the first week after its March debut.

John K. Pierson, a business attorney for the group, said the other four members were saddened by the verdict but had no plans to replace Howse should they tour this summer.

“You have to understand, these guys are a family. The grew up together and it’s a family enterprise,” Pierson told the Times.

Howse’s attorney said she plans to file an appeal.