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Pras Michél faces up to 22 years in prison after being found guilty on charges related to one of the world’s largest corruption scandals involving the 1Malaysia Development Berhad sovereign wealth fund. The scheme, in which Malaysian financier Jho Low was implicated, involved the siphoning of billions from the fund for lavish lifestyles, including luxury properties, art acquisitions, and the production of Hollywood films.
Michél, legally known as Prakazrel Samuel Michél, was convicted in April 2023 on 10 counts, which included money laundering, violating campaign finance laws, and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. Among the charges, he laundered $20-30 million from Low into Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign via shell companies, in violation of laws prohibiting foreign contributions to U.S. elections. He also allegedly advocated before the Trump administration on behalf of the Chinese government for the extradition of dissident billionaire Guo Wengui, a politically sensitive case.
The trial had moments of drama, including testimony from Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, who lifted the lid on Low’s ostentatious lifestyle and his political ambitions: according to DiCaprio, Low planned to make major political donations, further entwining his financial manipulations with those of U.S. politics.
The star has denied any wrongdoing and said he was unwittingly caught in the web that Low had spun. To hear him tell it, it's like something from a “spy movie”-he didn’t mean to break the law. It may be years before Michél actually goes to prison as he says he will appeal the conviction.
The case has had a significant effect on Michél’s personal and professional life. Free on bail but unable to travel out of the country pending sentencing, he hasn’t been able to visit his family. The scandal has also complicated relationships with his former Fugees bandmates, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, in the wake of a collapsed 2023 reunion tour that ended in financial disputes.
Michél’s sentencing, scheduled for January, marks a dramatic fall from grace for the artist-turned-political operative. His story continues to capture public attention, with plans for a documentary and potential film adaptation in development.
