Grammy-winning artist Prakazrel (Pras) Michel from the Fugees has been given a 14-year prison sentence for his involvement in illegally channeling millions of dollars in foreign donations to the 2012 re-election campaign of former U.S. President Barack Obama. The 53-year-old Michel chose not to speak before being sentenced by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.
In April 2023, Michel was found guilty on 10 charges, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. The trial, held in Washington, D.C., featured testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. attorney general Jeff Sessions.
Prosecutors from the Justice Department stated that Michel, who they accused of “betraying his country for money,” deserved a life sentence based on federal guidelines. They emphasized his lack of remorse and continuous deceit in carrying out his illicit schemes.
Michel’s defense attorney, Peter Zeidenberg, argued that the 14-year sentence was excessively severe for the offense committed. Michel intends to appeal both his conviction and the sentence imposed.
Zeidenberg had proposed a three-year prison term, asserting that a life sentence was unjustifiably harsh, typically reserved for serious criminals like terrorists and drug lords. Michel’s legal team criticized the government’s stance, highlighting the flaws in the sentencing guidelines that led to what they deemed an unfair punishment.
Originally from Brooklyn, Michel, a founding member of the Fugees alongside Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, has a musical background that includes winning two Grammy Awards and achieving significant album sales. He received over $120 million from Malaysian billionaire Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, and directed some of those funds through intermediaries to support Obama’s campaign.
Furthermore, Michel allegedly attempted to obstruct a Justice Department inquiry into Low, influenced witnesses, and committed perjury during the trial. Low, currently residing in China, was a major backer of “The Wolf of Wall Street,” a film featuring DiCaprio. Despite being a fugitive, Low maintains his innocence.
Michel’s legal team contended that Low’s contributions were primarily driven by a desire for a photo opportunity with then-President Obama, rather than any policy objective.
In August 2024, Michel’s request for a new trial was denied by the judge, who rejected claims of trial errors, including the use of generative AI technology by the defense attorney during the trial’s closing arguments. The judge determined that these issues did not constitute a significant miscarriage of justice.