Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, best known as a founding member of the Fugees, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison following his conviction on 10 counts, including conspiracy, witness tampering, and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. The sentence was handed down by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington, D.C.

At the core of the case is a high-stakes foreign influence scheme involving the Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, commonly known as Jho Low. Prosecutors say Michel received more than $120 million from Low and covertly channeled a portion of those funds into U.S. political campaigns — including Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election effort — using “straw donors” to disguise the true source. According to the U.S. Justice Department, this amounted to a “foreign and conduit contribution scheme,” with Michel coordinating contributions in his name and through about 20 other people, while falsifying reports to the Federal Election Commission.

In addition to the campaign finance allegations, Michel was also accused of trying to protect Low from scrutiny. Prosecutors alleged he sought to end a Department of Justice investigation into Low’s role in the 1MDB scandal — a massive Malaysian corruption case — by lobbying U.S. officials on Low’s behalf, and even attempted to influence Trump-era leaders. During the trial, evidence surfaced of Michel tampering with witnesses and giving false testimony.

The trial featured high-profile testimony: actor Leonardo DiCaprio, whose film The Wolf of Wall Street was partially financed by Jho Low, and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, among others, took the stand.  Federal prosecutors pushed for a life sentence, arguing Michel’s actions represented a serious threat to U.S. democracy by allowing a foreign financier to secretly influence elections.

Michel’s defense criticized the sentence as excessive — his lawyer called 14 years “completely disproportionate” and noted that sentencing guidelines had even allowed for a life term.  They also highlighted that Low’s motive may not have been political: according to Michel’s lawyers, Low simply wanted a photo op with Obama. Michel plans to appeal.

The case underscores the risks of celebrity-facilitated political influence and how illicit money can flow into U.S. politics through complex, covert schemes.  The sentencing marks a dramatic fall for Michel, once a successful and influential musician, now convicted of one of the most serious foreign‑influence crimes in recent memory.