Hip-Hop Legend's 14-Year Prison Term Highlights U.S. Efforts to Combat Overseas Election Meddling

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Hip-Hop Legend's 14-Year Prison Term Highlights U.S. Efforts to Combat Overseas Election Meddling

Bitget-RWA2025/11/22 20:59

By:Bitget-RWA

- Fugees rapper Pras Michel was sentenced to 14 years for conspiring to channel $120M from Malaysian financier Jho Low into Obama's 2012 re-election campaign. - The case ties to the 1MDB scandal involving Goldman Sachs , with Low seeking political access through campaign funds and witness tampering charges against Michel. - Michel's defense called the punishment disproportionate, citing AI use in closing arguments and contrasting penalties with other scheme participants. - The conviction highlights U.S. en

Prakazrel "Pras" Michel, a member of the Fugees, has been given a 14-year prison term for his role in a scheme to illegally direct millions from Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho—also known as Jho Low—into Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign, prosecutors revealed on Thursday. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington, D.C., concludes a widely watched trial linked to the international 1MDB corruption scandal, a massive financial fraud that also drew in Goldman Sachs and other major players

as per Bloomberg

. Michel, who won a Grammy as part of the Fugees in the 1990s, was found guilty in April 2023 on 10 charges, including conspiring to deceive the U.S. government and failing to register as a foreign agent

according to Pitchfork

Hip-Hop Legend's 14-Year Prison Term Highlights U.S. Efforts to Combat Overseas Election Meddling image 0

The charges state that Michel received more than $120 million from Low, who has been living in China since 2016 to avoid authorities, and funneled the money through shell companies to support Obama’s campaign.

Court documents show

, Low, who also financed the film The Wolf of Wall Street starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was seeking a chance to be photographed with the president. Prosecutors said Michel broke campaign finance laws and later tried to derail the investigation by influencing witnesses and lying while under oath

as reported by The Guardian

. The case also included attempts to persuade the Trump administration to stop the Department of Justice from investigating Low’s alleged theft from Malaysia’s 1MDB fund

as per Bloomberg

Michel’s lawyers argued that the punishment was “grossly disproportionate to the crime” and pointed out that his attorney used generative AI in the closing statements—a factor the judge said was not enough to justify a new trial

according to CBS News

. Michel’s defense plans to challenge both the verdict and the sentence, claiming that the prosecution’s “guidelines can be manipulated to produce absurd results”

as reported by The Guardian

. They have also previously filed a lawsuit against Lauryn Hill, another Fugees member, blaming her for a canceled tour, though that matter is unrelated.

The 1MDB affair, which resulted in Goldman Sachs paying $1 billion in settlements, has attracted global attention due to its links to political lobbying and financial wrongdoing

as per Bloomberg

. Low, who insists he is innocent, continues to be a central figure in the investigation. U.S. authorities have aggressively pursued those involved, seizing luxury goods and prosecuting others connected to the fraud

according to NBC News

Michel’s sentence also includes three years of supervised release and an order to forfeit $64.9 million

according to Pitchfork

. His attorneys have criticized the sentencing differences, noting that others involved in the scheme received lighter sentences or were not prosecuted. The case highlights the federal government’s efforts to combat foreign interference in U.S. politics, especially through illegal financial activities

as per Bloomberg

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

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