During the Fugees’ early-90s run, New York artist Pras was known for his musical talent and savvy business acumen. He was a founding member and the group’s only platinum-selling artist. But by 2012, prosecutors said, the rapper was in dire financial straits. He turned to Malaysian businessman Jho Low for cash. Today, the founder of the fugees Prakazrel “Pras” Michel is on trial for a multimillion dollar politics conspiracy.
Pras finds himself in hot water
The two began a money-laundering scheme that would funnel millions of dollars to the Obama campaign and cover up the foreign source of the funds. They also tried to get the Justice Department to drop a federal fraud investigation into Low’s alleged embezzlement from 1MDB, a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund.
Pras and Low allegedly funneled foreign funds to the 2012 Obama campaign, using straw donors and falsifying reports. They also lobbied the Trump administration to drop a Justice Department investigation into Low’s alleged embezzlement, and they tried to help Low secure the return of a Chinese dissident from the United States.
In her opening statement, Lockhart told jurors that Michel and Low aimed to circumvent federal law against foreign influence so they could buy access to the American president. She added that they also sought to conceal their dealings from investigators, even threatening to sue straw donors if they gave information about the schemes.
His Role
Michel was a key player in the conspiracy, according to prosecutors, but the rapper has pleaded not guilty on all charges. He is facing 11 criminal counts in the case, which focuses on lobbying to influence the government’s decisions about political campaigns and foreign policy.
He is the highest-profile defendant to stand trial in federal court since Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens was convicted of perjury in 2012. In addition to campaign finance violations, Michel is charged with witness tampering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
The trial is set to extend through April.
In a recent RS profile, I spoke with Pras about his music career and his political beliefs. He said he believes in American freedom and that he is not a fan of President Donald Trump, who he says is anti-American.
The rapper’s defense team is represented by David Kenner, a lawyer with a long history of representing hip-hop artists. In the past, he provided legal defense for Snoop Dogg during a 1996 murder trial and is currently representing Tory Lanez, who’s appealing his conviction for shooting fellow musician Megan Thee Stallion.
His lawyers are expected to argue that he acted in good faith and believed he was doing the right thing. They will present evidence that Michel was under pressure by prosecutors to plead guilty or accept the government’s offer of a deal, which the rapper rejected.
On the other hand, prosecutors are seeking a lengthy prison sentence for Michel, which they say will deter him from ever engaging in similar shady acts again. In the trial, prosecutors will call witnesses who could include actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former top officials of both President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump.
