Fugees rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel has been found guilty by a federal jury on charges including conspiracy, witness tampering, and failing to register as an agent of China.
The federal jury convicted Pras for orchestrating an unregistered, back-channel campaign beginning in or about 2017 to influence the then-administration of the President of the United States and the Department of Justice to drop an investigation of Jho Low.
He also used his influence to send a Chinese national back to China as well as conspiring to make and conceal foreign and conduit campaign contributions during the 2012 U.S. presidential election.
Michel faces up to 20 years in prison. No sentencing date was set.
Last week, Michel testified that Low paid him $20 million in 2012 in order to get a picture of himself with Obama and prosecutors alleged Michel funneled over $800,000 of that money to Obama’s campaign through a number of straw donors.
“As proven at trial, the defendant engaged in an extensive conspiracy to use millions of dollars in foreign funds to engage in illegal back-channel lobbying and make unlawful campaign contributions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
He added, “Today’s verdict demonstrates that anyone who engages in unlawful foreign-sponsored efforts to influence American officials, our elections, or the criminal justice system will be brought to justice.”
(Photo by Miami Film Festival via Wikimedia Commons)
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