washington D.C. – Prakazrel “Pras” Michél, a founding member of the Grammy-winning hip-hop group the Fugees, has begun serving a 14-year prison sentence after being convicted on charges of money laundering and campaign finance violations stemming from a sprawling 1MDB scandal.The case, which unfolded over several years, revealed Michél’s involvement in a complex scheme to funnel millions of dollars linked to the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund through shell companies and into U.S. political campaigns.
Michél testified he believed $20 million received from Jho Low, a key figure in the 1MDB fraud, was simply “free money from a wealthy businessman,” but was later found to have perjured himself when confronted with evidence of the financial structures he created to conceal his relationship with Low. Prosecutors also presented evidence that Michél attempted to obstruct a federal inquiry by sending letters to associates who had received 1MDB funds,urging them not to cooperate with the FBI – framing this as witness tampering.
A federal jury found Michél guilty on all ten counts in 2023, and ordered him to forfeit $65 million. A request for a retrial in October 2024 was denied after Michél accused his then-lawyer of using artificial intelligence to draft closing arguments that contained misattributed song lyrics.
The Department of Justice had recommended a life sentence, arguing Michél “betrayed his country for money” and deliberately misled the White house, politicians, and the FBI for nearly a decade. While the sentence handed down was less severe, his current legal counsel deemed the 14-year term “fully disproportionate to the offense.”
Prior to his sentencing,Michél maintained a low profile,telling Rolling Stone in 2023,”I’m like a pariah now. I’ve got friends who won’t talk to me because they think there’s a satellite in orbit listening to them.”
The Fugees briefly reunited in September 2021 for a 25th-anniversary performance of their album The Score,but plans for a global tour were canceled after Michél was placed under severe travel restrictions by prosecutors. The concert,held at New York’s Pier 17,offered a glimpse of the group’s enduring appeal,with Lauryn Hill,Wyclef Jean,and Michél delivering a performance described as “bittersweet.”
