Fugees Rapper Pras Sentenced to 14 Years for Illegal Donations to Obama Campaign

Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, a founding member of the Fugees, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for illegally channeling millions of dollars in foreign funds into former President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.

Michel, 52, declined to speak before U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly delivered the sentence on Thursday in Washington, D.C. He was convicted in April 2023 on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. His high-profile trial featured testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Federal prosecutors argued that sentencing guidelines supported a life term, accusing Michel of having “betrayed his country for money” and lying “unapologetically and unrelentingly” to conceal his schemes. “His sentence should reflect the breadth of his crimes and the magnitude of his greed,” prosecutors said.

Michel’s attorney, Peter Zeidenberg, called the 14-year sentence “completely disproportionate,” adding that his client will appeal the conviction and punishment. The defense had recommended a three-year term, calling the government’s push for a life sentence “absurdly high” and typically reserved for terrorists or cartel leaders.

Michel, born in Brooklyn to Haitian immigrant parents, co-founded the Fugees alongside Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. The group won two Grammys and sold tens of millions of records during its peak.

According to prosecutors, Michel received over $120 million from Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, and routed part of that money through straw donors into Obama’s campaign. Prosecutors said Michel also attempted to derail a Justice Department probe into Low, tampered with witnesses, and lied under oath.

Low—who remains a fugitive and has denied wrongdoing—was a major backer of the film The Wolf of Wall Street, starring DiCaprio.

Defense filings argued that Low’s goal was not political influence but a photo opportunity with President Obama.

Michel sought a new trial in 2024, partly on grounds that his lawyer had used a generative AI program to help craft closing arguments. The court rejected the request, ruling that any missteps did not amount to a miscarriage of justice.