Fugees Star Gets 14 Years for Money Laundering

Prakazrel "Pras" Michél, a co-founder of the Grammy-winning hip-hop group Fugees, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. His conviction stems from money laundering and campaign finance violations, involving the illicit funneling of over $21 million from Malaysian financier Jho Low into U.S. political campaigns between 2012 and 2017. This illegal activity sought to influence American politics and obscure Low's involvement.

The scheme began during President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, where Michél facilitated donations from Low, an act prohibited for foreign nationals. The funds were used for campaign events and political influence. Later, Michél became entangled with Chinese government interests, allegedly attempting to facilitate the extradition of a fugitive businessman in exchange for dropping Justice Department investigations.

Michél's downfall contrasts sharply with his Fugees' past activism. Despite his conviction and sentence, his former bandmates have remained publicly silent. The scandal highlights a complex web of international finance, political influence peddling, and the consequences of illicit financial dealings impacting U.S. elections.