Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, an ex-Fugees artist was found guilty on 10 charges, including corruption following accυsations that he used the money to buy influence in the US. According to US authorities, Michel got more than $100 million (£80 million) from Malaysian billionaire Jho Low, which he allegedly used in two attempts to sway US politics.
The self-described “celebrity surr0gate” was also found guilty of lobbying on behalf of the Communist Party of China.
Years in prison are now likely for the rapper. In a court in Washington, DC, Michel was found guilty of vi0lating the campaign finance laws, acting as an unregistered foreign agent, tampering with witnesses, and lying to banks.
David Kenner, his attorney, expressed his disappointment with the trial’s verdict and his intention to appeal.
“This is not over,” Mr. Kenner declared. “I continue to be very, very confident that we will win this case in the end.” Mr. Kenner claimed that he had also submitted mistrial motions. Both former US Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio testified during the trial, which got underway on March 30.
The Grammy-winning artist was charged with using “secret, illegal, foreign influence to bear” between 2012 and 2017 under the presidential administrations of Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
Mr. Low, who the US government is presently searching for, is accused of using funds taken from the sovereign fund to assist in financing Leonardo DiCaprio’s 2013 movie The Wolf of Wall Street.
It was claimed that Michel worked to persuade Trump administration officials to drop their inquiry into Mr. Low’s involvement in it. Additionally, Michel was charged with receiving funds from China to influence US officials to return Guo Wengui a Chinese dissident living in the US to China.
Nicole Lockhart, the government’s chief prosecutor, told the jury that Michel had been “looking for other ways to be paid” since his music career had hit a wall.
She added that he had viewed Mr. Low as an “opportunity to make money” because he “needed a different type of help” to dodge the 1MDB scheme’s repercussions.
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Michel acknowledged collecting money from Mr. Low, including $20 million to help him acquire a picture with Mr. Obama, but claimed to have seen the payments as “free money”.
When Michel took the stand to defend himself, he claimed that his employees and advisors had “betrayed” him by giving him poor guidance on how to manage his finances and stay out of trouble with the law.
But he admitted that it had been “stupid” of him to contact “friends” who were “getting visits” from the FBI regarding campaign contributions – a move that resulted in his witness tampering accusations.
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