On November 20, 2025, a federal courtroom in Washington, D.C. witnessed the dramatic conclusion of a saga that had entangled music, money, and political intrigue for years. Prakazrel "Pras" Michel, the Grammy-winning rapper and founding member of the iconic 1990s hip-hop group the Fugees, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. The charges? Illegally funneling millions of dollars in foreign contributions to former President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, orchestrating a foreign influence campaign, and acting as an unregistered agent of foreign governments, among others. The verdict, delivered by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, has sent ripples through the music industry and beyond, raising fresh questions about the murky intersection of celebrity, money, and politics.
For Michel, now 52, the sentence marks a stunning fall from grace. Once celebrated for hits like "Killing Me Softly" and "Ready or Not" with Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, Michel now faces years behind bars for a scheme prosecutors say "betrayed his country for money." According to the BBC, Michel was convicted in April 2023 on ten counts, including conspiracy, acting as an unregistered foreign agent, campaign finance violations, witness tampering, and lying to banks. The conviction followed a high-profile trial that featured testimony from Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
At the heart of the case was Michel’s relationship with Low Taek Jho—better known as Jho Low—a Malaysian financier now infamous for masterminding the 1MDB scandal. Low is accused of stealing about $4 billion from Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, one of the largest financial frauds in history. Prosecutors alleged that Michel received more than $120 million from Low, funneled some of that money through straw donors to Obama’s campaign, and later used additional funds to try to influence U.S. government action on Low’s behalf.
According to FOX Local, court documents described Michel as someone who “lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes.” Prosecutors argued that his crimes spanned nearly a decade, exploiting and deceiving not only U.S. government agencies—including the White House and the FBI—but also his own co-conspirators. "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," prosecutors wrote, urging Judge Kollar-Kotelly to impose a life sentence in line with federal guidelines.
Yet in the end, the judge settled on 14 years—a sentence that, while severe, fell far short of the life term prosecutors had sought. Michel’s defense team, led by attorney Peter Zeidenberg, called the punishment "completely disproportionate to the offence" and "absurdly high," especially compared to sentences handed down to others implicated in the affair. Zeidenberg pointed out that Michel’s co-defendant Elliott Broidy was pardoned, George Higginbotham received three months’ probation, and Nicki Lum Davis was sentenced to 24 months. "There simply is no justification for Mr. Michel being singled out like this except for the penalty for opting for trial," Zeidenberg told the BBC.
The defense also argued that Low’s motivation was not to achieve any policy objective, but rather, as Michel’s lawyers put it, “Low simply wanted to obtain a photograph with himself and then-President Obama.” Still, the jury was unconvinced, finding that Michel had attempted to end a Justice Department investigation into Low and the 1MDB scandal, tampered with witnesses, and perjured himself at trial. According to Billboard, Michel was also ordered last month to forfeit $64 million linked to the scheme and will surrender to authorities on January 27, 2026.
Michel’s legal troubles did not end with the verdict. After the trial, his defense team sought a retrial, arguing that Michel’s previous attorney, David Kenner, had bungled the case by relying on an untested artificial intelligence tool to craft closing arguments. That motion was denied, and Kenner later pleaded guilty to criminal contempt for leaking grand jury materials to reporters ahead of the trial. Now, Michel’s attorneys are preparing to appeal both the sentence and the underlying convictions, a process that could take years and faces steep odds for success.
The case has also reignited debate over the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a law requiring those working on behalf of foreign interests in the U.S. to disclose their activities. In 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memorandum narrowing the scope of FARA prosecutions, stating the Justice Department would only pursue cases involving conduct akin to espionage by foreign government actors. Notably, no espionage was alleged in Michel’s case. Still, as the BBC reported, Michel was convicted of lobbying on behalf of China’s government, in addition to his efforts for Jho Low.
For many, the story is as much about the American justice system as it is about Michel himself. Federal prosecutors insisted that the average sentence for similar-sized financial schemes exceeds 20 years, and that Michel’s crimes warranted a harsh response. "The Court’s sentence should reflect the seriousness of Michel’s offenses," they argued, according to Billboard. But the defense countered that the government’s request was disproportionate, typically reserved for terrorists or drug cartel leaders.
Michel’s downfall is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of celebrity, wealth, and unchecked ambition. Once a Brooklyn native whose Haitian immigrant parents watched him rise to international stardom, Michel now faces a lengthy prison term and the loss of tens of millions of dollars. His spokeswoman, Erica Dumas, told Billboard: “Pras has spent his career breaking barriers and defying expectations. While today marks a difficult moment, it is not the end of his story or his legacy. He is profoundly grateful for the continued support of those who believe in him as he prepares for what lies ahead.”
The sentencing marks a sobering chapter not only for Michel, but also for the Fugees, whose music once symbolized hope and resilience for a generation. The group, which won two Grammy Awards and sold tens of millions of albums, has seen its members pursue solo careers and, in recent years, attempt reunion tours. Now, with Michel’s conviction, the band’s legacy is forever intertwined with one of the most sensational political finance scandals in recent memory.
As Michel’s legal team gears up for a lengthy appeal, the story serves as a stark reminder: even the brightest stars are not immune to the consequences of their actions when the law—and the nation’s trust—are at stake.
