Fugees rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel reported to jail to start his 14-year sentence for cash laundering and unlawful lobbying.
The 53-year-old turned himself in on Thursday to the Federal Correctional Establishment in Safford, Arizona, his spokesperson, Erica Dumas, confirmed in an announcement to Rolling Stone.
“As we speak is a painful day for Pras, for his household, and for everybody who believes in a good system of justice,” Dumas stated.
“Pras honors the authorized course of as he studies to start his sentence,” Dumas continued, confirming they’re “vigorously” making an attempt to attraction the costs.
The spokesperson added that Michel’s authorized staff “believes the file will present that his rights had been violated and the reality was obscured.”
“This chapter is tough however it’s not his ultimate one,” the assertion concluded.
Web page Six reached out to Dumas for remark.
In April 2023, a federal jury convicted Michel on ten legal counts, together with cash laundering, unlawful lobbying, witness tampering and failing to register as a overseas agent, in keeping with CNN.
Michel was accused in 2019 of illegally funneling thousands and thousands of {dollars} from Malaysian financier Jho Low in overseas contributions to former President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection marketing campaign.
The singer additionally allegedly tried to impede an investigation into Low’s cash laundering rip-off and tried to steer the U.S. to extradite a Chinese language dissident, per Leisure Weekly.
When Michel was sentenced in November 2025, Justice Division prosecutors stated the singer “betrayed his nation” and “lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to hold out his schemes.”
Michel was initially ordered to give up in January, however the decide delayed his jail begin date to March, earlier than giving him one other 30-day extension.
Dumas informed Rolling Stone that Michel’s attraction “is within the very starting phases,” noting that they’re coping with “a really sophisticated case.”
The spokesperson stated Michel was busy throughout his ultimate weeks of freedom, together with attending Kanye West’s live performance in Los Angeles on April 3, the place he frolicked in a set with Dave Chappelle and Eryka Badu.
Dumas additionally stated Michel sang alongside throughout former bandmate Lauryn Hill’s efficiency with West.
Michel, Hill and Wyclef Jean fashioned the Fugees in 1990. The group gained two Grammy Awards, together with Finest Rap Album for “The Rating,” earlier than disbanding in 1998.
