Fugees rapper and Grammy-winning artist Pras Michel has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of orchestrating an illegal foreign lobbying operation. He was convicted of funneling millions of dollars from fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low to US political campaigns, including Barack Obama's 2012 reelection bid.
Michel received over $120 million (£91.7 million) from Jho Low, a wanted fugitive and alleged mastermind of the $4 billion (£3 billion) 1MDB embezzlement scandal. A significant portion of this money was channelled through straw donors—individuals who donate in their own name but are secretly acting on behalf of others—to fund Obama's campaign. Prosecutors said Michel also tried to hinder a US Justice Department investigation into Low, tampered with witnesses, and perjured himself during the trial.
