Grammy-Winning Rapper Pras Michel Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison
Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel of the Fugees was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Thursday for his role in a case involving the illegal funneling of millions of dollars in foreign contributions to former President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. Michel, 52, declined to address the court before U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly handed down the sentence.
Michel’s conviction in April 2023 included 10 counts, such as conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. The trial, which took place in Washington, D.C., featured testimony from notable figures, including actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. According to Justice Department prosecutors, federal sentencing guidelines recommended a life sentence for Michel, citing that he “betrayed his country for money” and “lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes.”
Prosecutors argued that Michel’s sentence should reflect the severity of his crimes, his disregard for the risks to his country, and the magnitude of his greed. However, defense attorney Peter Zeidenberg countered that the 14-year sentence is “completely disproportionate to the offense.” Zeidenberg had recommended a three-year prison sentence, stating that a life sentence would be an “absurdly high” punishment for Michel, typically reserved for deadly terrorists and drug cartel leaders.
Background and Charges
Michel, a Brooklyn native whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Haiti, was a founding member of the Fugees along with childhood friends Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. The hip-hop band won two Grammy Awards and sold tens of millions of albums. However, Michel’s success was marred by his involvement in a scheme to funnel millions of dollars in foreign contributions to Obama’s 2012 campaign. He obtained over $120 million from Malaysian billionaire Low Taek Jho and steered some of that money through straw donors to the campaign.
Michel claimed during the trial that he viewed Low’s payments as “free money” and accepted the millions to help Low secure a photo op with Obama. He stated that no one informed him that such payments could be unlawful or violate campaign finance laws. The Justice Department also charged Michel with serving as an unregistered foreign agent for China, alleging that he sought to influence the Trump administration to halt its probe into Low and extradite a Chinese government target living in the U.S.
Low, who has lived in China, was a primary financier of the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street,” starring DiCaprio. Low is a fugitive but maintains his innocence. Michel’s attorneys argued that Low’s motivation for giving Michel money was not to achieve a policy objective but to obtain a photograph with Obama.
Appeal and Next Steps
In August 2024, the judge rejected Michel’s request for a new trial, citing the use of a generative artificial intelligence program during the trial’s closing arguments. Michel’s attorneys plan to appeal his conviction and sentence. The case highlights the importance of transparency and compliance with campaign finance laws, as well as the consequences of violating these laws.
For more information on this case, visit Here to read the full report. Robert Legare contributed to this report.
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