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newsMay 1, 20261:22

Pras Michel Sentenced to 14 Years, Fights Back

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Pras Michel, formerly of the Fugees, begins a fourteen-year prison sentence for money laundering and illegal lobbying, following a conviction on ten counts. The case dates back to 2019, involving allegations of funneling cash from Malaysian businessman Jho Low through fake donors to Barack Obamas 2012 campaign, and attempting to block an investigation into Low and pushing for the extradition of a Chinese dissident. Pras team and defense lawyers argue the sentence is excessive, with Pras appealing the decision and filing a lawsuit against his former bandmate Lauryn Hill over a canceled reunion tour.

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Pras Michel Sentenced to 14 Years, Fights Back

Hip-Hop News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

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Hip-Hop News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!Pras Michel Sentenced to 14 Years, Fights Back. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.

On May 1st, Pras Michele, from the Fugies, just started his 14-year prison sentence for money laundering and illegal lobbying. The rapper, whose real name is Prakazriel Michele, turned himself in on April 30th at the Federal Correctional Institution in Stafford, Arizona. He got hit with the sentence back in November 2025 after a conviction on 10 counts. The case goes back to accusations from 2019 where Pras allegedly funneled cash from Malaysian businessman Joe Lowe through fake donors to Barack Obama's 2012 campaign. He was also charged with trying to block an investigation into Lowe and pushing for the extradition of a Chinese dissident. His team calls this a tough day for Pras, his family, and anyone who values fair justice. They say the sentence feels way too harsh compared to the crimes, more like overkill than real punishment. His lawyers pushed for just three years and slammed the guidelines as rigged. Pras is appealing the whole thing, arguing his rights got trampled and key facts were hidden.

Right before reporting, he headed to Los Angeles to catch his old Fugies' bandmate, Lauren Hill, performing with Kanye West on April 3rd. He even dropped a lawsuit against her over a cancelled reunion tour. As this legal battle drags on, Pras stays committed to fighting back through the courts, proving this setback won't define his story.

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