November 1st 2025.
A recent development in the case of Fugees member Pras Michel has left him ordered to surrender a staggering amount of money to the U.S. government. This decision came after his conviction last year for his involvement in an international lobbying scheme, according to Billboard.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly handed down the ruling on November 30, stating that Michel had obtained over $64 million from his crimes, which included conspiracy, witness tampering, and failure to register as an agent of China. Prosecutors argued that Michel had played a key role in funneling illegal foreign funds into political circles and influencing U.S. officials on behalf of Malaysian billionaire Jho Low, who is currently a fugitive.
Michel's legal team had previously pushed back against the proposed amount, claiming that it was "grossly disproportionate" in earlier court filings. However, the judge ultimately rejected this argument. A spokesperson for Michel, Erica Dumas, spoke out against the latest ruling, telling Billboard, "They already took 100 million from him and now they want another 64 million."
Next month, Michel is set to be sentenced, facing the possibility of decades in prison. His lawyers have requested a much shorter punishment of only three years, but federal sentencing guidelines allow for a much longer sentence. The Grammy-winning rapper, known for his work as one-third of the Fugees alongside Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, was found guilty in April 2023 on ten counts. The trial garnered a lot of attention, with testimony from high-profile figures such as Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Prosecutors alleged that Michel had assisted in moving money from Low to political campaigns and had later participated in lobbying efforts connected to China.
The decision on forfeiture had been delayed for several months after Michel underwent emergency surgery for colon cancer in August. With the hearing now concluded, the case moves forward to sentencing and a likely appeal. His legal team has already stated their intention to challenge both the conviction and the financial penalty.
In the midst of this legal battle, Michel and his former bandmates have continued to make headlines as they attempted multiple reunion tours, decades after the Fugees' success in the 1990s with hits like "Ready or Not" and "Killing Me Softly." It remains to be seen how this latest development will impact their future plans.
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