November 21, 2025 – Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, the Haitian-American Grammy-winning rapper and founding member of the iconic hip-hop group the Fugees, was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in federal prison for orchestrating a sprawling international conspiracy to illegally influence U.S. politics across two presidential administrations. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington, D.C., also includes three years of supervised release and an order to forfeit nearly $65 million in illicit gains.
Michel’s downfall stems from his April 2023 conviction on 10 federal counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, acting as an unregistered foreign agent in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), witness tampering, money laundering, and making illegal campaign contributions. Prosecutors portrayed the 52-year-old musician as a greedy middleman who “betrayed his country for money,” lying “unapologetically and unrelentingly” over nearly a decade to funnel over $100 million from foreign sources into American political channels. The Justice Department had pushed for a life sentence under federal guidelines, while Michel’s defense team sought just three years, calling any harsher penalty “absurdly high.”
At the heart of the scheme was Michel’s ties to Malaysian financier Jho Low (Low Taek Jho), the fugitive mastermind behind the multibillion-dollar embezzlement from Malaysia’s 1MDB sovereign wealth fund. Between 2012 and 2019, Low allegedly funneled massive sums to Michel, who then deployed the money to buy access and sway U.S. policy in Low’s favor – all while Low, who bankrolled Hollywood extravagance like The Wolf of Wall Street, remained at large.
Key elements of the conspiracy, as outlined in court documents:
- 2012 Obama Campaign Influence: Michel routed approximately $20 million from Low through a network of straw donors to Barack Obama’s reelection effort. In return, he secured a coveted White House photo op for Low, granting the fugitive unprecedented access to the highest levels of American power.
- Trump-Era Cover-Up: From 2017 to 2019, Michel lobbied Trump administration officials, including the Justice Department, to abandon the 1MDB probe that threatened Low’s freedom. His efforts included secret meetings and backchannel communications to shield the Malaysian from extradition.
- Chinese Extradition Plot: Acting as an unregistered agent for Chinese officials, Michel schemed to forcibly deport dissident Guo Wengui from the U.S., using illicit funds to orchestrate the operation without disclosing his foreign ties.
- Obstruction and Laundering: Convicted of witness tampering – including attempts to silence potential informants – and concealing key facts from investigators, Michel laundered the dirty money through complex financial maneuvers to obscure its origins.
The high-stakes 2023 trial captivated audiences with star-studded testimony, including Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio, who detailed his interactions with Low during the production of Martin Scorsese’s 2013 film, and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who spoke to Michel’s lobbying efforts. Michel took the stand in his own defense, portraying the windfalls as “free money” from a generous acquaintance and insisting he never intended to serve as a foreign agent. He declined to speak at Thursday’s sentencing hearing.
The sentence drew sharp divides. Prosecutor Danielle Sassoon argued it reflected the “breadth and depth” of Michel’s crimes, his “indifference to the risks to his country,” and the “magnitude of his greed.” Defense attorney Peter Zeidenberg fired back, calling the 14-year term “completely disproportionate to the offense” and unsupported by the evidence – especially when compared to lighter sentences for co-defendants like Low’s associates. Michel plans to appeal both his conviction and sentence, with his spokesperson Erica Dumas emphasizing, “Throughout his career Pras has broken barriers. This is not the end of his story.”
From hip-hop circles, reactions poured in. Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill, Michel’s Fugees bandmates, have remained publicly silent, though the group’s brief 2023 reunion tour – Michel’s last major stage appearance – now feels like a poignant footnote. Fans and critics alike mourn the fall of a trailblazer whose 1996 album The Score sold over 17 million copies and earned three Grammys, including Album of the Year.
Michel is ordered to surrender to authorities on January 27, 2026, to begin his term. The forfeiture of $65 million – including luxury assets and wire transfers – aims to claw back the spoils of his schemes. As appeals loom, the case serves as a stark warning about the perils of foreign money in U.S. elections, echoing broader concerns over campaign finance and national security.
Once a symbol of Haitian-American success, Michel’s trajectory from chart-topping artist to federal inmate underscores a tragic unraveling. “He had everything,” one music industry veteran told reporters outside the courthouse. “And he threw it away for this.”
This story is developing. Michel’s legal team has confirmed an appeal is forthcoming. For updates, check back with [Website Name].
Source: Multiple outlets including NPR, The New York Times, Rolling Stone
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