Pras Michel, best known as a member of the iconic Hip-Hop group the Fugees, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison following his conviction in a sprawling illegal lobbying and conspiracy case.

The charges stem from his involvement with Malaysian financier Jho Low and what prosecutors described as a coordinated effort to influence U.S. government actions.

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The 53-year-old rapper was found guilty in 2023 of orchestrating a foreign influence campaign aimed at pressuring federal authorities to drop their investigation into Low.

He was also accused of funneling Low’s money into political efforts and a separate extradition matter involving China.

At the hearing today (November 20) in Washington D.C., Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly handed down the 14-year sentence along with three years of probation. She also enforced last month’s order requiring the New Jersey native to forfeit $64 million linked to the scheme.

In a statement, Michel’s spokeswoman Erica Dumas said:

“While today marks a difficult moment, it is not the end of his story or his legacy. He is profoundly grateful for the continued support of those who believe in him as he prepares for what lies ahead.”

The artist is set to surrender on January 27 as his legal team prepares a full appeal of both his convictions and sentence. Appeals of this type often take years and rarely overturn a federal verdict, but his attorneys say they will pursue every available avenue.

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