Fugees Rapper Pras Michel Ordered to Pay $64 Million in Massive Foreign Lobbying Case
Written by b87fm on 11/03/2025
According to documents obtained by Complex, former Fugees member Pras Michel has been ordered to pay nearly $65 million in restitution following his conviction last year on federal charges related to illegal foreign lobbying and money laundering.
A federal judge determined Michel “obtained proceeds in the amount of at least $64,923,226 from his offense,” marking one of the largest restitution orders in a celebrity-linked corruption case.
The charges — including failure to register as a foreign agent, conspiracy, and witness tampering — stemmed from Michel’s alleged role in funneling money from Malaysian financier Jho Low through straw donors to influence U.S. politics. Prosecutors described the scheme as “the largest kleptocracy case to date.”
Michel, 51, faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced in December, though his legal team has requested leniency. His spokesperson, Erica Dumas, criticized the government’s pursuit of additional funds:
“They already took 100 [million] from him and now they want another 64 [million],” she told reporters.
Earlier this year, Michel’s sentencing was delayed following emergency colon cancer surgery, with his team expressing hope for a “swift recovery.”
Despite his legal troubles, there were reports earlier this year suggesting Michel could be under consideration for a presidential pardon — though no official confirmation has been made.
