Federal Judge Gives Fugees Rapper, Pras Michel, 14 Years Over Obama Campaign Fundraising Scheme
Fugees rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in prison for illegally funneling millions of dollars in foreign contributions to former President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. Michel, 52, chose not to address the court before U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued the sentence.
A federal jury convicted Michel in April 2023 on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. His trial in Washington, D.C., featured testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Prosecutors said sentencing guidelines recommended a life sentence, accusing Michel of betraying the country for money and lying repeatedly to carry out his schemes. They argued that his punishment should reflect the depth of his crimes and his disregard for national security.
Defense attorney Peter Zeidenberg called the 14-year term completely disproportionate and confirmed Michel will appeal both the conviction and the sentence. Zeidenberg had urged the court to impose no more than three years, arguing that a life sentence would be an absurd penalty typically reserved for terrorists and cartel leaders.
In a court filing, Michel’s legal team accused the government of manipulating guidelines to achieve extreme results, comparing the prosecution’s zeal to Inspector Javert’s relentless pursuit in Les Misérables.
Michel, born in Brooklyn to Haitian immigrants, rose to fame as a founding member of the Fugees alongside Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. The group earned two Grammy Awards and sold tens of millions of albums.
Prosecutors said Michel received more than $120 million from Malaysian billionaire Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, and funneled some of that money into Obama’s campaign using straw donors. They also said Michel attempted to thwart a Justice Department investigation into Low, tampered with witnesses and committed perjury during his trial.
Low, a financier of “The Wolf of Wall Street,” has lived in China and remains a fugitive while maintaining his innocence. Michel’s attorneys claimed Low’s goal in providing the money was simply to secure a photograph with then-President Obama, not to influence policy.
In August 2024, Michel’s push for a new trial was rejected. His attorneys had argued that his previous lawyer’s use of a generative AI program during closing arguments — along with other alleged errors — undermined the integrity of the proceedings. The judge ruled those issues did not amount to a miscarriage of justice.
