Topline: A harsh sentence was handed to the American musician who “sold out his country for profit” in a scheme linked to fugitive financier Jho Low.
Published: November 25, 2025 8:00 am ET
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Pras Michel (via WireImage)
WASHINGTON, DC — Rap artist Prakashel “Pras” Michel was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison in a Washington, D.C., court, closing out his conviction in a complex $100 million political conspiracy case.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly delivered the sentence more than two years after Michel was convicted in April 2023. He was found guilty of 10 felony counts, including conspiracy, witness tampering, and serving as an unregistered agent of a foreign power.
Michel, 53, must also serve three years of probation following his release, representatives for the musician confirmed to People magazine
The sentencing came after a lengthy trial that detailed Michel’s involvement in an international conspiracy orchestrated by Malaysian financier Jho Low. Low is an international fugitive accused of embezzling money from Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund.
Michel’s crimes were split into two distinct schemes to influence the United States government on Low’s behalf. The first phase involved illegally funneling money into the 2012 presidential election.
The indictment states that Low transferred $21.6 million into accounts belonging to Michel to affect the United States presidential election. Michel subsequently paid approximately $865,000 of that money to various donors. The funds were to support the campaign of then-President Barack Obama.
The second phase of the scheme involved Michel attempting to influence officials within President Donald Trump’s administration. This effort was to pressure the administration to drop its investigation into Low and his alleged financial crimes, federal prosecutors stated.
The U.S. musician’s trial featured testimony from several high-profile figures. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio testified during the proceedings, as did former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
In June 2024, the Department of Justice and Michel struck a separate deal to return $100 million tied to embezzlement from Malaysia’s state-owned wealth fund. Prosecutors said the diverted money also financed Hollywood projects, including “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors argued for a severe sentence. According to ABC News, they asserted that Michel “betrayed his country for money.” They noted the gravity of his offenses and his apparent indifference to the risks posed to the nation’s security.
The Justice Department cited that the average sentence for others convicted of similar-sized financial schemes was 20 years. Prosecutors argued that Michel’s sentence should reflect the seriousness and the magnitude of his actions, as reported by ABC News.
Michel’s defense team, however, requested a dramatically shorter sentence of 36 months in prison. His attorneys described the three-year request as a “just sentence in this case,” according to statements provided to Billboard.
Michel’s attorney, Peter Zeidenberg, released a statement following the sentencing, expressing plans to challenge the conviction. Zeidenberg told People magazine that he believes the verdict was not supported by the evidence presented during the trial.
Zeidenberg also described the 14-year sentence as “completely disproportional to the facts alleged,” especially when compared to other individuals involved in the same scheme. He argued that all of Michel’s codefendants were intimately involved in the plot.
The attorney suggested that the heavy penalty was a consequence of Michel choosing to take his case to trial. He stated that there was no justification for Michel being punished this severely.
Michel found stardom in the mid-1990s as a founding member of the hip-hop group the Fugees. The group, which included Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, released the album “The Score” in 1996, which was certified seven-times platinum.
Michel must report to federal prison by Jan. 27, 2026. His legal representative, Erica Dumas, acknowledged the sentence as a difficult moment but maintained that it’s not the end of Michel’s public legacy.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Rapper Pras Michel Sentenced to 14 Years for Political Conspiracy Scheme
A harsh sentence was handed to the American musician who “sold out his country for profit” in a scheme linked to fugitive financier Jho Low.
By Kate Byrd
Published: November 25, 2025 8:00 am ET
Pras Michel (via WireImage)
WASHINGTON, DC — Rap artist Prakashel “Pras” Michel was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison in a Washington, D.C., court, closing out his conviction in a complex $100 million political conspiracy case.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly delivered the sentence more than two years after Michel was convicted in April 2023. He was found guilty of 10 felony counts, including conspiracy, witness tampering, and serving as an unregistered agent of a foreign power.
Michel, 53, must also serve three years of probation following his release, representatives for the musician confirmed to People magazine
The sentencing came after a lengthy trial that detailed Michel’s involvement in an international conspiracy orchestrated by Malaysian financier Jho Low. Low is an international fugitive accused of embezzling money from Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund.
Michel’s crimes were split into two distinct schemes to influence the United States government on Low’s behalf. The first phase involved illegally funneling money into the 2012 presidential election.
The indictment states that Low transferred $21.6 million into accounts belonging to Michel to affect the United States presidential election. Michel subsequently paid approximately $865,000 of that money to various donors. The funds were to support the campaign of then-President Barack Obama.
The second phase of the scheme involved Michel attempting to influence officials within President Donald Trump’s administration. This effort was to pressure the administration to drop its investigation into Low and his alleged financial crimes, federal prosecutors stated.
The U.S. musician’s trial featured testimony from several high-profile figures. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio testified during the proceedings, as did former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
In June 2024, the Department of Justice and Michel struck a separate deal to return $100 million tied to embezzlement from Malaysia’s state-owned wealth fund. Prosecutors said the diverted money also financed Hollywood projects, including “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors argued for a severe sentence. According to ABC News, they asserted that Michel “betrayed his country for money.” They noted the gravity of his offenses and his apparent indifference to the risks posed to the nation’s security.
The Justice Department cited that the average sentence for others convicted of similar-sized financial schemes was 20 years. Prosecutors argued that Michel’s sentence should reflect the seriousness and the magnitude of his actions, as reported by ABC News.
Michel’s defense team, however, requested a dramatically shorter sentence of 36 months in prison. His attorneys described the three-year request as a “just sentence in this case,” according to statements provided to Billboard.
Michel’s attorney, Peter Zeidenberg, released a statement following the sentencing, expressing plans to challenge the conviction. Zeidenberg told People magazine that he believes the verdict was not supported by the evidence presented during the trial.
Zeidenberg also described the 14-year sentence as “completely disproportional to the facts alleged,” especially when compared to other individuals involved in the same scheme. He argued that all of Michel’s codefendants were intimately involved in the plot.
The attorney suggested that the heavy penalty was a consequence of Michel choosing to take his case to trial. He stated that there was no justification for Michel being punished this severely.
Michel found stardom in the mid-1990s as a founding member of the hip-hop group the Fugees. The group, which included Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, released the album “The Score” in 1996, which was certified seven-times platinum.
Michel must report to federal prison by Jan. 27, 2026. His legal representative, Erica Dumas, acknowledged the sentence as a difficult moment but maintained that it’s not the end of Michel’s public legacy.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Latest Articles
Rapper Pras Michel Sentenced to 14 Years for Political Conspiracy Scheme
A harsh sentence was handed to the American musician who “sold out his country for profit” in a scheme linked to fugitive financier Jho Low.
By Kate Byrd
Published: November 25, 2025 8:00 am ET
Pras Michel (via WireImage)
WASHINGTON, DC — Rap artist Prakashel “Pras” Michel was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison in a Washington, D.C., court, closing out his conviction in a complex $100 million political conspiracy case.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly delivered the sentence more than two years after Michel was convicted in April 2023. He was found guilty of 10 felony counts, including conspiracy, witness tampering, and serving as an unregistered agent of a foreign power.
Michel, 53, must also serve three years of probation following his release, representatives for the musician confirmed to People magazine
The sentencing came after a lengthy trial that detailed Michel’s involvement in an international conspiracy orchestrated by Malaysian financier Jho Low. Low is an international fugitive accused of embezzling money from Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund.
Michel’s crimes were split into two distinct schemes to influence the United States government on Low’s behalf. The first phase involved illegally funneling money into the 2012 presidential election.
The indictment states that Low transferred $21.6 million into accounts belonging to Michel to affect the United States presidential election. Michel subsequently paid approximately $865,000 of that money to various donors. The funds were to support the campaign of then-President Barack Obama.
The second phase of the scheme involved Michel attempting to influence officials within President Donald Trump’s administration. This effort was to pressure the administration to drop its investigation into Low and his alleged financial crimes, federal prosecutors stated.
The U.S. musician’s trial featured testimony from several high-profile figures. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio testified during the proceedings, as did former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
In June 2024, the Department of Justice and Michel struck a separate deal to return $100 million tied to embezzlement from Malaysia’s state-owned wealth fund. Prosecutors said the diverted money also financed Hollywood projects, including “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors argued for a severe sentence. According to ABC News, they asserted that Michel “betrayed his country for money.” They noted the gravity of his offenses and his apparent indifference to the risks posed to the nation’s security.
The Justice Department cited that the average sentence for others convicted of similar-sized financial schemes was 20 years. Prosecutors argued that Michel’s sentence should reflect the seriousness and the magnitude of his actions, as reported by ABC News.
Michel’s defense team, however, requested a dramatically shorter sentence of 36 months in prison. His attorneys described the three-year request as a “just sentence in this case,” according to statements provided to Billboard.
Michel’s attorney, Peter Zeidenberg, released a statement following the sentencing, expressing plans to challenge the conviction. Zeidenberg told People magazine that he believes the verdict was not supported by the evidence presented during the trial.
Zeidenberg also described the 14-year sentence as “completely disproportional to the facts alleged,” especially when compared to other individuals involved in the same scheme. He argued that all of Michel’s codefendants were intimately involved in the plot.
The attorney suggested that the heavy penalty was a consequence of Michel choosing to take his case to trial. He stated that there was no justification for Michel being punished this severely.
Michel found stardom in the mid-1990s as a founding member of the hip-hop group the Fugees. The group, which included Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, released the album “The Score” in 1996, which was certified seven-times platinum.
Michel must report to federal prison by Jan. 27, 2026. His legal representative, Erica Dumas, acknowledged the sentence as a difficult moment but maintained that it’s not the end of Michel’s public legacy.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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