The Fugees’ Pras is seeking a sentencing hearing from the court for January 2025 in his 2023 conviction on charges of conspiracy, witness tampering, and campaign finance violations.
Born Prakazrel Michél, the 51-year-old entertainer was charged for his role in a major political scandal involving illegal foreign lobbying and financial crimes. He was indicted in 2019 for participating in a scheme to influence the U.S. government on behalf of Malaysian financier Jho Low, who was implicated in the 1MDB scandal—a vast international fraud and embezzlement operation. He was accused of channeling money from Low to support political campaigns in the U.S., including President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, without registering as a foreign agent.
AllHip-Hop broke the news on Thursday (Sept. 26), that Pras and his legal team are suggesting a December 20 deadline for submitting a Memoranda in Aid of Sentencing, followed by a sentencing hearing in early January. This memorandum, typically prepared by the defense, provides a more complete view of the defendant beyond the crime.
Facing up to 20 years in prison, Pras has been denied another trial, with his case drawing attention as part of a larger probe into international political corruption. The sought-after request follows The Fugees’ anticipated reunion tour being canceled over the summer.
Lauryn Hill, a fellow Fugees member, stated in August about the cancellation of the tour. She credits the cancelation due to injury. In the statement, she wrote, “Last year, I faced an injury that necessitated the rescheduling of some of my shows. Regrettably, some media outlet’s penchant for sensationalism and clickbait headlines have seemingly created a narrative that has affected ticket sales for the North American portion of the tour.”
Pras’s diss track followed the tour cancelation. In the song, he raps, “Don’t blame me, blame her/She made the mess/Not another f#####’ penny, what I told ‘Clef.”