Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, of the iconic 1990s hip-hop group The Fugees, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after being convicted of campaign finance violations and illegal lobbying, U.S. courts confirmed.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington, D.C., following a high-profile trial that exposed Michel’s role in funneling millions of dollars from Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low. Prosecutors argued that Michel acted as an unregistered foreign agent, funnelling funds to influence American politics.
According to court documents, Michel was found guilty in April 2023 on 10 counts, including conspiracy, money laundering, and acting on behalf of a foreign government.
At the trial, the prosecution presented testimony from high-profile figures, including former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, underscoring the scale and seriousness of the scheme.
From the bench, prosecutors painted a stark picture of Michel’s conduct, saying he “lied unapologetically and unrelentingly” to carry out his influence operation.
They told the court that federal sentencing guidelines justified a life sentence, given the depth of Michel’s deception and greed.
Michel’s defense strongly objected to the length of the prison term. His lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg, called the 14-year sentence “completely disproportionate.” He argued that a life term, which prosecutors had referenced, would apply more appropriately to cases involving terrorism or drug cartels, rather than a lobbying scandal.
Michel has vowed to appeal both his conviction and sentence.
In addition to the prison term, Michel faces substantial financial penalties: authorities ordered him to forfeit nearly US$65 million as part of the judgment.
The case is deeply linked to the broader 1MDB scandal, in which Jho Low allegedly embezzled billions of dollars from Malaysia’s state investment fund. Prosecutors say Michel helped channel some of those illicit funds into American political campaigns, including the re-election campaign of Barack Obama in 2012.
