Pras Michel, founding member of the Grammy-winning hip-hop group the Fugees, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for conspiracy adn campaign finance violations. The verdict, delivered Tuesday, concludes a high-profile case alleging Michel illegally funneled foreign money into the 2012 Obama presidential campaign and obstructed a Justice Department examination.
The case centers around michel’s relationship with Malaysian billionaire Jho low, a key figure in the 1MDB scandal, and raises questions about the influence of foreign money in U.S. elections. Michel’s sentencing follows a conviction on charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States, violating campaign finance laws, and witness tampering. He maintained his innocence throughout the trial, claiming his actions were legitimate lobbying efforts.
Prosecutors argued Michel received over $120 million from low and used straw donors to contribute to Barack Obama’s campaign. They also alleged Michel attempted to quash a Justice Department investigation into low and obstructed the legal process by tampering with witnesses and committing perjury.
Defense attorneys countered that Low’s motivation was simply to secure a photograph with then-President Obama, not to influence policy.They also raised concerns about the use of generative AI by the defense during closing arguments, leading to a rejected request for a new trial in August 2024. The judge determined that while errors occurred, they did not constitute a miscarriage of justice.
Jho Low,who financed the film “The Wolf of Wall Street” starring Leonardo DiCaprio,remains a fugitive and maintains his innocence. Michel, a brooklyn native whose parents immigrated from Haiti, rose to fame with the Fugees, selling tens of millions of albums and winning two grammy Awards. His legal battles now mark a stark fall from musical prominence.
