Grammy-winning rapper Pras Michel, a member of the Fugees, has been handed a 14-year prison sentence for illegally channeling millions of dollars in foreign contributions to the 2012 re-election campaign of former U.S. President Barack Obama. The sentencing was delivered by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly after Michel, 53, opted not to speak in court.
In April 2023, a federal jury found Michel guilty on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. The trial, held in Washington, D.C., featured testimonies from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Prosecutors from the Justice Department argued that Michel deserved a life sentence for his actions, stating that he had “betrayed his country for money” and had been unapologetic in carrying out his schemes. Michel’s defense attorney, Peter Zeidenberg, criticized the 14-year sentence as “completely disproportionate” and announced plans to appeal both the conviction and the sentence.
Michel, a native of Brooklyn with roots from Haiti, co-founded the Fugees alongside Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. The group achieved success in the music industry, winning two Grammy Awards and selling millions of albums. Michel received over $120 million from Malaysian billionaire Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, and redirected some of these funds to Obama’s campaign through straw donors.
Additionally, Michel attempted to obstruct a Justice Department inquiry into Low, influenced witnesses, and committed perjury during the trial, according to prosecutors. Low, a financier of “The Wolf of Wall Street,” sought a photo opportunity with Obama through his donations. The judge denied Michel’s request for a new trial in August 2024, dismissing claims that the use of generative AI by his defense attorney constituted a significant miscarriage of justice.