Pras Michel, a Grammy-winning artist known for his work with the hip-hop group Fugees, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison following a conviction for his involvement in an illegal foreign lobbying scheme. The sentencing took place on Thursday, and Michel is set to surrender to authorities on January 27.
The case centered around Michel's actions on behalf of Malaysian financier Jho Low, which included funneling over $120 million into the 2012 reelection campaign of then-President Barack Obama, in violation of laws prohibiting foreign contributions to American political campaigns. Michel was convicted on 10 counts in April 2023, which included charges of conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.
During the trial in Washington, testimony was heard from notable figures such as actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The presiding judge, Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, also mandated that Michel would face three years of supervised release after completing his prison term.
Prosecutors from the Justice Department had pushed for a life sentence, emphasizing that Michel's conduct represented a betrayal of his country motivated by greed. They argued that his persistent lying to further his schemes warranted a sentence reflecting the seriousness of his crimes.
In contrast, Michel's defense attorney, Peter Zeidenberg, criticized the 14-year sentence as "completely disproportionate to the offense," pointing out that such severe sentences are generally reserved for terrorists and drug cartel leaders. The defense recommended a three-year term, and Zeidenberg has announced plans to appeal both the conviction and the sentence.
Prior to the sentencing, Michel publicly sought clemency from President Donald Trump, expressing his hope for leniency and his trust in the judicial process. His request for a new trial was denied in August 2024, with the judge ruling that while there were errors during the trial, they did not constitute a serious miscarriage of justice.
Michel's rise to fame occurred in the 1990s with the Fugees, alongside Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. Their music, which includes hits like "Killing Me Softly," "Ready or Not," and "Fu-Gee-La," earned them international acclaim before they disbanded in 1998.
