Pras Michel, a former member of the Fugees, received a 14-year prison sentence after being found guilty of running an illegal lobbying operation connected to Jho Low, a Malaysian financier who is currently a fugitive.
The musician, age 53, received his formal sentence in federal court in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. He had been convicted last year of several crimes, including conspiracy, fraud, and illegally working as a foreign agent.
In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced Michel to three years of supervised release, meaning he’ll be monitored by a probation officer after he gets out.
As someone who follows these cases closely, let me break down what’s happening with Michel. On top of a significant prison sentence, he’s also having to give up $64 million. This money is tied to a wide-ranging effort to influence American officials – basically, they were trying to get the U.S. to back off investigations into Jho Low, who is believed to be the key figure behind the huge 1MDB financial scandal. It’s a complicated situation, but the bottom line is this is about covering up a massive fraud.
I’ve been a huge fan of Pras Michel for years, and it’s amazing to see everything he’s accomplished – he’s truly a pioneer. It’s definitely not over for him, and I’m excited to see what he does next. I was so glad to hear, through a recent statement, that he’s really touched by all the support he’s receiving as he moves forward – it’s so well deserved!
Federal prosecutors pushed for a severe punishment for Michel, stating his actions were a serious betrayal of the public’s trust.
Billboard reported that critics accused him of prioritizing money over patriotism, and pointed out that similar financial offenses frequently lead to prison sentences of over twenty years.
Michel’s lawyers argued for a 36-month sentence, claiming the government was unfairly comparing him to dangerous criminals like cartel bosses or terrorists.
Michel is scheduled to surrender to authorities on January 27.
Following the ruling, Peter Zeidenberg, his lawyer, stated to The Daily Mail that they believe the verdict wasn’t backed up by the evidence and the sentence was far too harsh considering the alleged facts, especially when compared to the sentences given to his co-defendants who were equally involved in the situation.
Elliott Broidy received a pardon, George Higginbotham was sentenced to three months of probation, and Nicki Lum Davis received two years. Additionally, the Department of Justice has stated it will only pursue cases under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) if espionage is involved, which isn’t the case here, according to Zeidenberg. He believes there’s no reason for Michel to be treated differently, except for the fact that he chose to go to trial, and they plan to appeal the decision.
Michel became well-known around the world in the 1990s as a member of the Fugees, the group that won a Grammy award with Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean.
The Fugees rose to international fame with popular songs like “Killing Me Softly,” “Ready or Not,” and “Fu-Gee-La” before breaking up in 1998.
Michel had some personal and legal issues that made it unlikely he’d ever return to his former success, despite occasional attempts to reconnect with fans.
According to prosecutors, he secretly worked with Jho Low to move millions of dollars into lobbying, with the goal of changing U.S. policy.
He faced accusations of illegally funnelling foreign funds into Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign. He was also accused of trying to influence government officials during the Trump administration to help China with extradition requests.
Michel’s 2023 trial featured testimony from high-profile figures including Leonardo DiCaprio.
He was convicted on all 10 felony counts.
Recently, Michel asked former President Donald Trump to pardon him, hoping his request would be granted.
Michel told TMZ earlier this year that he hoped the president would acknowledge him. He also said he still felt positively towards any president and believed things would work out as they should.
He compared his legal fight to Donald Trump’s recent conviction, arguing they were both targeted by an overly aggressive Justice Department. He specifically referenced Trump’s case during the Biden administration.
The Hollywood Reporter had reported that Trump was considering a pardon, but the White House wouldn’t confirm or deny it. Later, representatives for Michel stated they were simply looking into all possibilities.
Michel publicly backed rapper Tory Lanez, mistakenly implying the president could pardon him. However, Lanez was convicted under California law, meaning only Governor Gavin Newsom has the power to grant clemency in this case.
Michel turned out to be a key player in a strange, worldwide scheme that connected powerful people in Hollywood, finance, and politics.
Prosecutors said he pocketed an estimated $88 million for his role in the scheme.
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2025-11-21 03:41