Fugees’ Pras Michel Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison
The artist was found guilty of being involved in the 1MDB scandal.
Summary
- Pras Michel of the Fugees was sentenced to 14 years in prison and three years’ probation for corruption and conspiracy
- The charges relate to receiving $8 million USD from Jho Low to influence U.S. politics during two presidential terms
- Michel is set to surrender to authorities on January 27, 2026, following the guilty ruling
Pras Michel of Fugees has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of 10 counts including corruption, conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.
Billboard reports that Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced the artist to 14 years in prison and three years’ probation. Erica Dumas, Michel’s spokesperson, 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.”
Michel is set to surrender himself to authorities on January 27, 2026.
The 53-year-old is accused of receiving at least $8 million USD from fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, the man who siphoned $4.5 million USD from the sovereign wealth fund 1 Malaysia Development Berhad. Michel purposefully did not register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and allegedly tried to gain leverage across Barack Obama’s presidential terms by sending millions of dollars to the 2012 campaign via straw donors. He supposedly attempted to do the same during Donald Trump’s first term and lobbied for the President to send Guo Wengui, the exiled Chinese businessman, back to China. In addition, he was reportedly offered another $75 million USD if he managed to put a stop to the Department of Justice’s investigation into the 1MDB scandal.
