KUALA LUMPUR — Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, a member of the 1990s hip-hop group the Fugees, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his involvement in an illegal foreign money scheme orchestrated by Malaysian financier Jho Low, which funneled millions of dollars into former US President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.
Michel, 52, was convicted in April 2023 on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.
The prosecution revealed that Michel received more than $120 million (RM497 million) from Low, who allegedly sought to secure a photograph with Obama, using straw donors to channel part of the funds into the campaign.
Low, a central figure in the 1MDB scandal, remains at large, wanted by US authorities for his role in embezzling billions from Malaysia’s state investment fund.
The court heard that Michel’s actions, which violated US election laws, were not motivated by political ambitions but by Low’s personal desire for celebrity access.
“The motivation for giving Mr Michel money to donate was not so that he could achieve some policy objective,” Michel’s lawyers argued.
“Instead, Low simply wanted to obtain a photograph with himself and then-President Obama.”
Low’s alleged misappropriation of 1MDB funds has implicated numerous individuals, including former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2022.
Michel’s trial, which drew star witnesses such as actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, culminated in the rapper’s sentencing by US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. Michel chose not to speak before the judge delivered his sentence.
Prosecutors described Michel as having “betrayed his country for money”, with federal guidelines suggesting a life sentence for the magnitude of his crimes.
They argued that his actions posed serious risks to national security, describing his behaviour as “unapologetic” and driven by greed.
Michel’s lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg, has vowed to appeal the sentence, criticising the 14-year term as “completely disproportionate to the offence”.
He also contested the prosecution’s call for a life sentence, likening it to penalties reserved for the most severe criminals.
Once a celebrated artist who won multiple Grammy Awards, Michel now faces a lengthy prison sentence that has overshadowed his successful musical career. – November 21, 2025