We have some very CRAZY NEWS . . . top African American actor CLIFTON POWELL is charged with RAPING a woman. A new Orleans woman who goes by the name Kiyante Myers says that she met Clifton and things started off fine - but then he turned into a VIOLENT RAPIST.

Here's how TMZ is reporting it:

Myers claims she initially consented to sex with Powell ... but when it turned rough, she asked him to stop ... and he refused.

Instead, she claims, Powell placed his hands over her face and raped her. WE know what you're thinking . . . why didn't she go to the police? Well according to TMZ, she DID ... but they "didn't feel there was enough evidence to prove Powell committed a crime." So she's SUING him in federal court . . . for more than $75k.