Pras Michel Slapped with $64.9 Million Fine for Foreign Lobbying

Photo Credit: Pras Michel (Instagram)

A federal judge rules that Fugees rapper Pras Michel must pay over $64 million to the US government on the charges for which he was convicted in 2023.

Pras Michel—the Fugees rapper who was convicted on illegal foreign lobbying and conspiracy charges two and a half years ago—must pay the U.S. government a staggering $64.9 million for his crimes, a federal judge ruled on Thursday (October 30).

The decision was handed down following the rapper’s conviction in April 2023 on illegal foreign lobbying and conspiracy charges. These are in relation to the ongoing investigation into Malaysian financier and fugitive Jho Low. Pras’ lawyers say such a massive amount is “grossly disproportionate” to his conviction.

However, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said Michel had obtained “proceeds in the amount of at least $64,923,226 from his offenses.” These included conspiracy, witness tampering, and failing to register as an agent of China.

Pras also faces sentencing on those convictions next month, and could receive decades in prison. His attorneys are pushing for a much lighter sentence of 36 months.

The whole matter stems from accusations in 2019 that Michel was funneling money from Low—the financier behind the billion-dollar 1MDB embezzlement scheme—to a lobbying campaign designed to persuade the first Trump administration to drop its investigation into Low. Michel was also accused of secretly funneling Low’s money into Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign, and of trying to influence an extradition case on behalf of China.

Following a publicized trial in 2023 that saw testimony from former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Pras Michel was convicted on 10 counts, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government.

The court’s recent decision follows a several-month delay after Pras announced over the summer that he had emergency surgery for colon cancer removal. The hearing, which was originally scheduled for August, was eventually rescheduled for last week.

Now, Pras awaits his sentencing next month, but the rapper is likely to appeal both decisions.