Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel "Pras" Michel, a founding member of the legendary hip-hop group Fugees, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for illegally funneling millions of dollars in foreign contributions to former President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign.
The Conviction and Sentencing
On Thursday, November 20, US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly delivered the sentence to the 52-year-old artist, who declined to address the court before learning his fate. The sentencing follows Michel's conviction in April 2023 on 10 criminal counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.
Prosecutors from the Justice Department had argued for a much harsher punishment, stating that federal sentencing guidelines recommended a life sentence for Michel. They described him as having "betrayed his country for money" and "lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes."
High-Profile Trial and International Connections
The Washington, DC trial featured testimony from several high-profile figures, including actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The case revealed Michel's connection to Malaysian billionaire Low Taek Jho, commonly known as Jho Low, from whom Michel obtained over $120 million.
Prosecutors detailed how Michel steered some of these funds through straw donors to Obama's campaign. Michel also attempted to interfere with a Justice Department investigation of Low, tampered with two witnesses, and committed perjury during his trial.
Jho Low, who financed the movie "The Wolf of Wall Street" starring DiCaprio, remains a fugitive living in China while maintaining his innocence.
Defense Arguments and Appeal Plans
Michel's defense attorney, Peter Zeidenberg, strongly criticized the 14-year sentence as "completely disproportionate to the offense" and had recommended only a three-year prison term. The defense team argued that a life sentence would be absurdly high for such crimes, noting that such punishments are typically reserved for deadly terrorists and drug cartel leaders.
In a surprising twist, Michel's attorneys revealed that Low's motivation for the donations wasn't policy influence but rather "to obtain a photograph with himself and then-President Obama." The defense has confirmed they will appeal both the conviction and sentence.
The case took another unusual turn when Michel's request for a new trial was denied in August 2024. The judge rejected arguments that included his defense attorney's use of a generative AI program during closing arguments, ruling that this and other trial errors didn't constitute a serious miscarriage of justice.
Michel, a Brooklyn native of Haitian immigrant parents, rose to fame as part of the Fugees alongside childhood friends Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. The group won two Grammy Awards and sold tens of millions of albums during their celebrated career.
