Fugees Rapper Pras Turns Himself in to Begin 14-Year Sentence
Fugees Rapper Pras Turns Himself in to Begin 14-Year Sentence
Adam EnglandFri, May 1, 2026 at 2:54 PM UTC
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Pras Michel in 2022Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage -
Pras Michel turned himself in to the Federal Correctional Institution in Safford, Ariz., to begin his 14-year sentence on Thursday, April 30
The 53-year-old was convicted of charges including conspiracy, concealment of material facts and witness tampering in 2023
The Fugees rapper is appealing the conviction, his spokesperson has confirmed
Fugees rapper Pras Michel has turned himself in to begin a 14-year prison sentence, while vowing to appeal his conviction.
The 53-year-old, who was convicted of charges including conspiracy, concealment of material facts and witness tampering in 2023, reported to the Federal Correctional Institution in Safford, Ariz., on Thursday, April 30.
Pras Michel arriving at U.S. District Court on April 3, 2023Credit: Tasos Katopodis/Getty
“Today is a painful day for Pras, for his family, and for everyone who believes in a fair system of justice,” his spokesperson, Erica Dumas, said in a statement to Rolling Stone.
She continued, “Pras honors the legal process as he reports to begin his sentence. The [Foreign Agents Registration Act]-related charges that led to his conviction are being vigorously contested on appeal, and his legal team believes the record will show that his rights were violated and the truth was obscured. This chapter is difficult but it is not his final one.”
A judge first ordered Michel to begin his sentence in January before later delaying it until March. He was then given another 30 days, setting April 30 as his surrender date. Dumas said that the Fugees star intends to "fight it on the inside" with an appeal.
Federal prosecutors indicted Michel in 2019, accusing him of illegally transferring funds into former President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign.
Fugees members Lauryn Hill, Pras Michel and Wyclef Jean performing on Sept. 23, 2023Credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty
Just over three years ago, Michel was found guilty of charges of conspiracy, concealment of material facts, making false entries in records, witness tampering and serving as an unregistered agent of a foreign power related to an international conspiracy involving Malaysian businessman Jho Low, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
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Per the original indictment, Low transferred $21.6 million to accounts belonging to Michel in 2012 “for the purpose of funneling significant sums of money into the United States presidential election."
He then paid approximately $865,000 from the money he received from the Malaysian businessman to different donors to contribute to Obama's campaign.
Dumas told Rolling Stone that Michel spent the days before he turned himself in with his family.
She said he was recently in attendance at Kanye West's Los Angeles concert on April 3, where he spent time in a suite with Dave Chappelle and Erykah Badu. His Fugees bandmate Lauryn Hill was also there and joined West onstage as a guest.
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Michel dropped a lawsuit against Hill in March. In October 2024, he sued her for fraud and breach of contract relating to the Fugees' shortened 2023 tour and the cancellation of their Miseducation anniversary tour in 2024.
However, 17 months later, the lawsuit was “dropped without prejudice."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
