Fugees rapper Pras sentenced to 14 years in prison over illegal donations to Obama campaign

Grammy-winning rapper Pras sentenced to 14 years in prison for illicit Obama campaign donations

A disturbing turn of events has unfolded for Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel "Pras" Michel, the founding member of the iconic Fugees group. Convicted on ten counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, Michel will be serving a 14-year prison sentence.

Michel's involvement in a billion-dollar Malaysia scam has led to his downfall. The alleged scheme, spearheaded by Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, saw billions of dollars funneled into US politics, with Michel reportedly playing a significant role in secretly channeling funds to then President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign.

Michel's defense team had argued that their client's sentence was "completely disproportionate" given the nature of his crimes. However, federal prosecutors countered that his actions were egregious and deserving of harsh punishment. The judge ultimately sided with the prosecution, citing Michel's blatant disregard for US laws and his apparent indifference to the risks his actions posed to the country.

The case has drawn significant attention, including testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. While Michel will now face 14 years behind bars, he plans to appeal against his conviction and sentence.

Michel's involvement in the high-stakes Malaysia scandal has also led to scrutiny of his past actions. A court filing by his defense team highlighted what they described as "absurd" federal sentencing guidelines that seem to prioritize punishment over justice. The defense argued that these guidelines often result in disproportionate sentences for individuals not typically associated with violent crimes or large-scale corruption.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the complex and ever-evolving landscape of global politics, where illicit funds can flow freely across borders and influence US elections. As Michel begins his 14-year sentence, it remains to be seen how he will navigate this dark chapter in American history.

just heard about Pras getting sentenced to 14 years in prison for those illicit Obama donations like what was he thinking? he's a Grammy winner and all but still thought it was cool to play with the system, no respect for US laws at all... and now his career is basically over meanwhile the real question is how did this even happen in the first place? all these high-profile cases like this remind me that money can buy influence and politicians can be bought too #JusticeFailed #MoneyCorrupts #USPolitics

Ugh, can't believe this guy's gonna get off easy ... I mean, 14 years is basically a slap on the wrist for someone who basically sold out to the highest bidder. And don't even get me started on Obama - if he was so clean, why did his campaign take money from a sketchy Malaysian financier? It's like everyone involved knew exactly what they were getting themselves into and just wanted in on the action... Meanwhile, the rest of us are stuck dealing with the consequences.

man this guy's got some serious issues I don't even condone what he did but 14 years is a pretty harsh punishment considering the other factors involved like the billions of dollars being funnelled into Obama's campaign and all that can't say I'm surprised though, when you play with fire you gotta expect to get burned

I don't usually comment but I feel like 14 years is a pretty harsh punishment for someone who basically got caught up in a massive financial scandal that went way beyond him... I mean, he's a rapper not a politician . And what really gets me is that the defense team is saying that these sentencing guidelines are 'absurd' because they prioritize punishment over justice, but it feels like there's already a huge imbalance going on here... Like, what kind of sentencing guidelines would even lead to 14 years for someone involved in a Malaysia scam . I guess we'll just have to wait and see how Pras handles his time behind bars .

This whole thing is super fishy. I mean, come on 14 years for "illicit" campaign donations? That's a wild swing from the usual bipartisan politics we're used to . What's really going on here? Was it just some big-time corruption or was there more to it than meets the eye? The whole thing reeks of overreach and abuse of power . And what about Obama's campaign team? Were they in on it too? This whole scandal is a perfect example of how money can manipulate politics and the system . We need to take a closer look at these sentencing guidelines and see if they're fair or just another way for the powers that be to maintain control .

Ugh, can't believe they're locking up Pras for 14 years over some shady Obama campaign donations . I mean, I get it, breaking the law is no joke, but a billion-dollar Malaysia scam? That's just ridiculous . And what really gets me is that he was only playing a tiny role in all this - still, 14 years seems way too harsh to me . And have you seen the sentencing guidelines they're using? "Absurd" doesn't even begin to describe them . I'm all for accountability and justice, but come on, can't we find a better way to handle these cases that don't involve locking up innocent people for decades?!

Ugh, what's going on with these rich and famous people? I mean, Pras thinks he can just use his Grammy wins and his rapper status to get away with breaking the law? 14 years is a long time, dude! I'm all for holding people accountable for their actions, but come on. Can't we be more fair? It's like they're saying, "Hey, you might have broken some laws, but you're still worth more than me, so I'll just give you a slap on the wrist." No, that's not how it works! We need to take these cases seriously and make sure everyone is held to the same standard.

come on 14 years is crazy that's just ridiculous I mean what are the chances that you get caught up in a billion dollar scam and end up doing prison time for it? I dont think it's disproportionate at all, like if you're playing with fire you gotta expect to get burned. And what really gets me is that Leonardo DiCaprio testified against him lol who does he have to answer to now?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole Pras thing... like what was he even thinking? I mean, I get that politics can get crazy, but secretly funneling billion dollars into a campaign without registration? That's just nuts . And now he's gonna be serving 14 years for it? That's like, totally harsh . But at the same time, you gotta respect the prosecution's stance - it's not like Pras was exactly innocent in all this .

And can we talk about how messed up the sentencing guidelines are? Like, what even is that supposed to do? It just seems like a way for the system to punish people who aren't typically guilty of violent stuff or corruption. I'm no expert, but it just doesn't seem right .

Anyway, this whole thing has me thinking - how much influence can illicit funds really have on politics? Like, what's the real extent of this scandal and how deep does it go? I guess we'll just have to wait and see how Pras navigates his time in prison... but one thing's for sure: this case is gonna stay with me for a while .

omg this is so crazy!!! like I was studying about the importance of campaign finance laws in my civics class last week and now Pras is serving a 14 year prison sentence for doing the exact opposite? it's just wild how one wrong move can lead to such severe consequences. I feel bad for him though, he did play a significant role in channeling funds into Obama's campaign... but at the same time, you can't just break the law and expect everything to be okay . Anyway, I wonder how this will all play out now that he's behind bars

ugh what is wrong with these rich ppl? think they can just use their money to bribe ppl into doin them favors and no one's gonna touch 'em? meanwhile regular people are still dealin with the system and tryna make ends meet