Prakazrel "Pras" Michel, a member of the Grammy-winning hip-hop group the Fugees, was sentenced on Thursday to 14 years in federal prison. The sentencing occurred in a case where Michel was convicted of illegally directing foreign funds to former President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign.
Michel, 52, did not address the court prior to being sentenced by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.
Conviction Details
In April 2023, a federal jury found Michel guilty on 10 counts, which included conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. The trial, held in Washington, D.C., featured testimonies from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Sentencing Arguments
Justice Department prosecutors had recommended a life sentence for Michel. They asserted that Michel "betrayed his country for money" and "lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes," arguing 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."
Defense attorney Peter Zeidenberg stated that the 14-year sentence is "completely disproportionate to the offense" and confirmed Michel intends to appeal both his conviction and sentence. Zeidenberg had proposed a three-year prison sentence, with Michel's legal team arguing that a life sentence would be "absurdly high" for the offenses, typically reserved for different types of crimes.
Financial Transactions and Related Actions
Michel was found to have received over $120 million from Malaysian billionaire Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low. A portion of these funds was subsequently channeled through straw donors to Obama's campaign.
Prosecutors also alleged that Michel attempted to obstruct a Justice Department investigation into Low, tampered with two witnesses, and committed perjury during his trial. Jho Low, identified as a primary financier of the film "The Wolf of Wall Street," remains a fugitive and has maintained his innocence. Michel's attorneys contended that Low's motivation for providing funds was to obtain a photograph with then-President Obama, not to influence policy.
Post-Trial Developments
In August 2024, Judge Kollar-Kotelly denied Michel's motion for a new trial. This request was partly based on the defense attorney's use of a generative AI program during closing arguments. The judge determined that this and other cited trial errors did not constitute a serious miscarriage of justice.