WASHINGTON – Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, a rapper known from the Fugees, has been given a 14-year prison sentence. This comes after he was found guilty of illegally moving money from foreign sources into Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign for president.
Michel, who is 52, chose not to speak in court before the sentence was handed down by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.
Back in April 2023, a jury decided that Michel was guilty of several crimes. These included working with others to break the law and acting as a secret agent for another country without registering with the U.S. government. The case, held in Washington, D.C., included statements from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Government lawyers argued that Michel deserved a harsh punishment, possibly even life in prison. They claimed he “betrayed his country for money” and repeatedly lied to hide his actions. They pushed for a sentence that showed how serious his crimes were and how little he cared about the risks to the nation.
Michel’s defense lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg, called the 14-year sentence too severe. He stated that Michel will appeal the decision. Zeidenberg had suggested a three-year sentence instead, arguing that a life sentence would be excessive for these crimes.
The case revealed that Michel received a large sum of money, over $120 million, from a Malaysian businessman named Low Taek Jho. Prosecutors say Michel used some of this money to donate to Obama’s campaign through other people, hiding the true source of the funds. He also allegedly tried to interfere with an investigation into Low, interfered with witnesses, and lied under oath.
Michel’s lawyers argued that Low’s goal in donating the money was simply to get a picture with President Obama.
Last year, a judge denied Michel’s request for a new trial. This request was partly based on the fact that his defense team used an AI program during closing arguments. The judge ruled that this and other issues during the trial did not lead to a significant injustice.
