O rapper Pras Michel, 53, stage name Prakazrel Samuel Michel, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for using money to gain influence over U.S. politics in administration of former president Barack Obama and current president Donald Trump.
According to information from the BBC, the sentence of the former member of the hip hop group Fugees was handed down this Thursday (20) by judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington, DC
Prosecutors had asked for life in prison, alleging that the artist acted as an unregistered foreign agent, obstructed investigations and participated in illegal campaign financing.
The trial drew attention because it involved testimonies from well-known figures, such as actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Pras Michel was convicted of political campaign finance violations, lying to banks, exercising “secret and illegal foreign influence” between 2012 and 2017, the period in which Barack Obama and Donald Trump were in the White House, and lobbying on behalf of the Chinese government.
Regarding the latest conviction, American prosecutors stated that Michel received more than US$100 million (around R$539) from Malaysian billionaire Jho Low, an amount used in attempts to influence American politics.
Peter Zeidenberg, Michel’s defense lawyer, told the BBC that he considered the verdict “not supported by the evidence” and that the sentence “was completely disproportionate to the facts alleged.”
“There is no justification whatsoever for Mr. Michel to be handpicked in this way, other than the penalty for choosing to go to trial,” he said.
In April 2023, the rapper had already been convicted of corruption, acting as an unregistered foreign agent and obstruction of justice.
Pras Michel became known for being a member of the hip hop group Fugees, alongside Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill.
He won the Grammy in 1997, in the categories of Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for the song “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and Best Rap Album for “The Score”.
In 1999, he was nominated again for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for the song “Ghetto Suparstar”.
