Fugees rapper Pras Michel was found guilty Wednesday of 10 counts related to a “foreign influence campaign scheme” funded by a wealthy Malaysian businessman. The charges included conspiracy to defraud the United States government and making foreign and conduit campaign contributions, one count of concealing material facts, and two counts of making a false entry in a record in connection with the conspiracy.
The Grammy-winning artist was accused of actively participating in a failed conspiracy to help the now-fugitive Malaysian financier, Jho Low, and the Chinese government influence American politics. He was also accused of blocking the Justice Department’s investigation into claims of embezzlement from 1MDB, a Malaysian investment fund, according to a civil complaint.
Michel told jurors during the trial that he had accepted around $20 million in 2012 from the Malaysian businessman who wanted a photo with President Barack Obama. However, he claimed those funds were never intended as illegal foreign campaign contributions or as payment for his services. But prosecutors claimed otherwise. They accused the rapper turned “political figure” of accepting the funds to develop a scam to illegally funnel $800,000 of the money into the Obama campaign through straw donors and political committees.
Prosecutors did note that the Obama campaign was unaware that those payments were illegal and that they were tricked into accepting illicit funds.
Prosecutors also allege that in 2017, investigations into Low’s role in billions of dollars being embezzled from 1MBD began to ramp up, and Michel accepted $100 million to help persuade the government, including Trump, to drop its investigation into Low. But Michel says he only stepped in to help Low find an attorney in the US.
Michel was also accused of advocating for the extradition of Guo Wengui on behalf of the Chinese government.
Low, who was charged along with Michel in the case, has been on the run since but is believed to be hiding out in China.
