Prakazrel "Pras" Michel, the Grammy-winning rapper from The Fugees, has begun serving a 14-year federal prison sentence after being convicted of orchestrating an illegal scheme to funnel millions of dollars in foreign contributions to former President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign.
Incarceration Details
Michel, 53, reported to a low-security correctional institution in Arizona on Thursday, according to federal records and confirmation from his spokesperson, Erica Dumas. Dumas stated, "Today is a painful day for Pras, for his family, and for everyone who believes in a fair system of justice. Pras honors the legal process as he reports to begin his sentence." She added that his legal team continues to contest the charges, concluding, "This chapter is difficult, but it is not his final one."
Conviction and Sentencing
In April 2023, a federal jury in Washington, D.C., found Michel guilty on 10 counts, including conspiracy, acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, and multiple campaign finance violations. He was sentenced late last year. The trial featured testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Justice Department prosecutors argued that federal sentencing guidelines recommended a life sentence, asserting that Michel "betrayed his country for money" and "lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes." They wrote, "His sentence should reflect the breadth and depth of his crimes, his indifference to the risks to his country, and the magnitude of his greed."
Details of the Scheme
Prosecutors alleged that Michel obtained over $120 million from Malaysian billionaire Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, and funneled some of that money through straw donors to Obama's 2012 campaign. Michel also attempted to end a U.S. Justice Department investigation into Low, tampered with two witnesses, and committed perjury during his trial. Low has maintained his innocence.
Background on Michel and The Fugees
Michel was a founding member of The Fugees alongside childhood friends Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. The group won two Grammy Awards and sold tens of millions of albums worldwide before disbanding.
