Pras Michel Sentenced to 14 Years for Illegal US Campaign Fund Scheme

A United States court has sentenced Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, a Grammy-winning rapper and member of the 1990s hip-hop group the Fugees, to 14 years in prison. The sentencing took place on Thursday in Washington, DC, after Michel was convicted of illegally funneling millions of dollars in foreign contributions to former US President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.

Michel, who did not speak during the sentencing, was found guilty on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. The trial included testimonies from former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

Court documents show that Michel received over $120 million from Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, who is wanted in connection with the 1MDB scandal. Michel allegedly used straw donors to channel this money into Obama’s campaign. The 1MDB scandal involved billions of dollars being stolen from Malaysia’s state investment fund, and several top Malaysian officials have already been convicted, including former Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Prosecutors described Michel as having “lied unapologetically and unrelentingly” to carry out his schemes. They stated that his actions were a betrayal of his country and aimed to manipulate the US political system for foreign interests. It is illegal in the US for foreign nationals to contribute to election campaigns or to pay others to make campaign donations.

Additionally, prosecutors accused Michel of attempting to stop a Justice Department investigation into Low and the 1MDB scandal, tampering with witnesses, and committing perjury during his trial. Federal guidelines suggested a life sentence due to the scale and seriousness of Michel’s crimes.

Michel’s lawyers argued that the foreign contributions were not intended to influence policy and claimed the sentence was “absurdly high,” typically reserved for terrorists and drug cartel leaders. They indicated that Michel plans to appeal the decision.

Pras Michel, a Brooklyn native whose parents immigrated from Haiti, was a founding member of the Fugees along with Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. The group won two Grammy Awards in the 1990s and sold millions of albums worldwide.

This case highlights the serious consequences of illegally using foreign funds in US elections and the government’s efforts to uphold campaign finance laws.