CONTACT US

Contact Form

    News Details

    Ex-Fugees rapper Pras guilty in Chinese influence case
    • April 26, 2023

    By Holmes Lybrand | CNN

    The rapper Pras Michel was found guilty in federal court in Washington on Wednesday of 10 criminal counts related to an international conspiracy reaching the highest levels of the US government.

    The Grammy-winning artist and former member of the Fugees faced multiple counts over the failed conspiracy to help Malaysian businessman Jho Low and the Chinese government gain access to US officials, including former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

    Michel testified last week that Low paid Michel $20 million in 2012 in order to get a picture of himself with Obama and prosecutors alleged Michel funneled over $800,000 of that money to Obama’s campaign through a number of straw donors.

    In his defense, Michel testified he never used the money at Low’s direction but instead saw it as his money which he could spend however he wanted.

    “I could have bought 12 elephants with it,” he told the jury.

    When Trump came to power in 2017 and investigations started to ramp up into Low and his alleged role in billions of dollars being embezzled from 1MBD, the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund, Low went to Michel again, prosecutors alleged.

    According to the prosecutors, Low directed over $100 million to Michel to help push the government, including Trump, to drop its investigation into Low. Prosecutors also say Michel advocated for the extradition of a Chinese dissident, Guo Wengui, on behalf of the Chinese government.

    Related Articles


    We Build The Wall founder imprisoned for fraud


    Santa Monica OKs $122.5M settlement of sex abuse claims against ex-employee


    E. Jean Carroll testifies: ‘Donald Trump raped me’


    12 beers in less than 3 hours: A binge or a ruse in Temescal Valley triple-murder case?


    Southern California man gets 4 years in prison for role in Capitol riot

    Michel, however, testified he only tried to help Low find an attorney in the US and only told authorities about Guo because he thought he was a criminal. The former Fugees member also said the $100 million was for a media business he was starting and the investment wasn’t from Low.

    Low, who was charged along with Michel, is believed to be in China. Guo has since been arrested and charged by the Justice Department with defrauding investors in an unrelated case.

    This story is breaking and will be updated.

    ​ Orange County Register 

    News