Fugees rapper Pras Michel convicted, faces up to 20 years

Grammy-winning Fugees rapper, Prakazrel Michel, accused of multimillion-dollar political lobbying spanning two presidencies, was convicted Wednesday. Michel faces up to 20 years in prison under the most serious of the charges.

A Washington court found him guilty of all charges, including conspiracy and acting as an agent of a foreign government.

Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, who achieved fame in the 1990s with hits including “Ready or Not” and “Killing Me Softly”, was accused of funneling money from a Malaysian financier, Low Taek Jho, through straw donors to Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.

He then tried to suppress investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration.

Now a fugitive, Low masterminded a money laundering and bribery scheme that pilfered billions from the Malaysian state investment fund known as 1MDB.

Agent of China
Michel was alleged to have lobbied Washington on behalf of China to send dissident Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui back to China.

The trial saw testimony ranging from actor Leonardo DiCaprio to former US attorney general Jeff Sessions.