Fugees Rapper Pras Michel Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Illicitly Donating Millions to Obama Campaign
A US court has handed down a substantial sentence to Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel "Pras" Michel, co-founder of the Fugees, for his role in funnelling millions of dollars in foreign donations to former President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign. The ruling marks a severe blow to Michel, who was convicted on multiple counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.
Michel, 52, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, far exceeding the recommended life sentence suggested by prosecutors. In a scathing statement, the Justice Department characterized Michel's actions as "betraying his country for money" and "lying unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes." The prosecution alleged that Michel's greed was staggering, particularly in light of his connections to Malaysian billionaire Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low.
The case involved a complex web of illicit donations, with Michel allegedly using straw donors to funnel millions of dollars into Obama's campaign. Witnesses testified against Michel, including actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former attorney general Jeff Sessions. His defense team argued that the 14-year sentence was "completely disproportionate" to the offense, citing federal sentencing guidelines reserved for more severe crimes.
Michel's defense team maintained that a life sentence would be an "absurdly high" punishment, as it is typically reserved for more serious offenders. The prosecution countered that Michel's actions were egregious and deserving of a harsher penalty. In a court filing, the defence team warned that the Justice Department was overzealous in its pursuit of punishment.
Michel, a Brooklyn native whose parents immigrated to the US from Haiti, had long been associated with high-profile figures. The Fugees' hit songs and albums had garnered widespread success, earning them two Grammy Awards and tens of millions of dollars in sales.
However, it appears that Michel's rap career is set to take a dramatic detour, as he now faces 14 years behind bars for his alleged involvement in the illicit donation scheme. His conviction and sentence have sparked debate about the length of prison sentences, with many questioning whether Michel's actions warrant such severe punishment.
A US court has handed down a substantial sentence to Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel "Pras" Michel, co-founder of the Fugees, for his role in funnelling millions of dollars in foreign donations to former President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign. The ruling marks a severe blow to Michel, who was convicted on multiple counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.
Michel, 52, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, far exceeding the recommended life sentence suggested by prosecutors. In a scathing statement, the Justice Department characterized Michel's actions as "betraying his country for money" and "lying unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes." The prosecution alleged that Michel's greed was staggering, particularly in light of his connections to Malaysian billionaire Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low.
The case involved a complex web of illicit donations, with Michel allegedly using straw donors to funnel millions of dollars into Obama's campaign. Witnesses testified against Michel, including actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former attorney general Jeff Sessions. His defense team argued that the 14-year sentence was "completely disproportionate" to the offense, citing federal sentencing guidelines reserved for more severe crimes.
Michel's defense team maintained that a life sentence would be an "absurdly high" punishment, as it is typically reserved for more serious offenders. The prosecution countered that Michel's actions were egregious and deserving of a harsher penalty. In a court filing, the defence team warned that the Justice Department was overzealous in its pursuit of punishment.
Michel, a Brooklyn native whose parents immigrated to the US from Haiti, had long been associated with high-profile figures. The Fugees' hit songs and albums had garnered widespread success, earning them two Grammy Awards and tens of millions of dollars in sales.
However, it appears that Michel's rap career is set to take a dramatic detour, as he now faces 14 years behind bars for his alleged involvement in the illicit donation scheme. His conviction and sentence have sparked debate about the length of prison sentences, with many questioning whether Michel's actions warrant such severe punishment.
... I mean, yeah, he did some shady stuff, but come on, $10 million for Obama? That's like, crazy 
! And what about the fact that Low Taek Jho is a Malaysian billionaire with tons of cash and influence? Maybe Pras just got caught up in something bigger than himself 
. The whole thing seems kinda fishy to me 
. I get why the Justice Dept wants to punish him, but 14 years feels like an overkill 
. I mean, can't we be a little more understanding and try to help people make amends instead of throwing them away? 
! I mean, come on 14 yrs? That's crazy! He didn't do anything wrong, just used his connections to help a friend out. It's all about who you know in the US 
. Low Taek Jho is like a Malaysian version of Trump 
. The sentence is way too harsh, imo 
. Pras should get a slap on the wrist, not a 14-year prison sentence 
.
Pras is a legend, like a true icon 
The Fugees' music still holds up today 
But seriously, 14 years in prison seems crazy harsh, especially considering the whole "straw donors" thing was probably just some shady business deals 
It's not like Pras committed an actual crime... but at the same time, you can't just let people abuse the system, right? 
The Justice Department should've stuck with the recommended life sentence, imo 
what's up with this?! like I get it, someone breaking the law is bad news, but 14 YEARS? that's crazy talk! 
I think it's kinda harsh. I mean, sure, he broke the rules, but it's not like he meant to hurt anyone or stuff. And 14 years is a long time, you know? 
what about his family and friends? how are they gonna deal with this? 
. And now Pras is gonna have to spend half his life in prison 
. That doesn't seem right to me...
he was just trying to help Obama out I mean we all love Obama right? 
I dont get why the judge had to be so harsh but at the same time im not gonna sit here and say its his fault or anything. Im just saying 14 yrs seems kinda excessive even for a rapper with millions 