• Pras Michel sentenced to 14 years in prison for illegal campaign donations.
• Michel convicted of multiple counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign agent.
• The case involved significant foreign influence, with over $120 million funneled from Jho Low.
• Prosecutors sought a life sentence, citing the serious nature of the offenses.
• Michel intends to appeal his conviction and sentence.

Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, a founding member of the Fugees, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for illegally funneling millions in foreign contributions to former President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. Michel, 52, was convicted on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign agent earlier this year. The case featured testimonies from prominent figures including actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, according to SCMP, Al Jazeera, and NPR.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly delivered the sentence on November 20, 2025, with prosecutors arguing that Michel “betrayed his country for money,” noting his involvement with Malaysian billionaire Jho Low, who funneled over $120 million into American politics. Prosecutors described Michel's actions as involving “prohibited foreign contributions” and emphasized the need for a significant sentence, even recommending life in prison under federal guidelines, according to BBC and Africanews.

Defense attorney Peter Zeidenberg criticized the sentence as “completely disproportionate,” citing the typical penalties for white-collar crimes and comparing it to sentences given to Michel's co-defendants. Michel was found guilty of numerous charges including witness tampering, and has stated intentions to appeal the conviction and sentence, as mentioned by The Hill and Le Monde.

Michel received a significant sum from Jho Low, who is a fugitive believed to be hiding in China after being tied to the 1MDB scandal. Prosecutors have claimed he attempted to influence U.S. politics to benefit Low, who has been accused of orchestrating one of the largest financial frauds in history. The case against Michel typifies serious concerns over foreign influence in political campaigns, highlighting illegal activities occurring between 2012 and 2017, according to SCMP, Al Jazeera, and NPR.