Fugees artist Pras Michél is officially facing a long stretch behind bars after a federal judge handed him a 14-year prison sentence linked to conspiracy and illegal foreign lobbying charges. The decision came down Thursday in a Washington, D.C. courtroom, where the judge also tacked on three years of probation to follow his prison term. This news arrives just weeks after Pras was ordered to forfeit a staggering $64 million, tied to what prosecutors described as an extensive international scheme.
His legal troubles stem from a list of allegations that have been building for years. Back in April 2023, Pras was convicted on ten separate counts, including accusations that he interfered with campaign finance laws during Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential run. Prosecutors also claimed he attempted to influence the Trump administration in 2017, painting a picture of a complex network of foreign connections and political maneuvering that ultimately unraveled in court.
For Pras, the sentence marks an outcome his team hoped they could somehow avoid. He previously told TMZ Hip Hop that he and his legal camp were holding out hope for a lifeline, saying they were essentially “crossing their fingers for a pardon from Trump himself.” Instead, the court delivered what many are calling a harsh but expected verdict, given the scale of the accusations and the financial penalties already assigned.
Now, Pras is preparing for the next chapter of this already dramatic legal saga. He’s been ordered to surrender on January 27, officially beginning the lengthy sentence that follows one of the most high-profile federal cases involving a hip hop figure in recent memory. At this point, the focus shifts to how he plans to navigate the years ahead and what this means for his legacy as a member of one of hip hop’s most celebrated groups.
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