Fugees’ Pras Michél Breaks Silence After Conviction: ‘I Never Wanted to Be a Spy’

Pras Michel (Paras Griffin-Getty Images)
Pras Michel (Paras Griffin-Getty Images)

*Pras Michel of the Fugees is opening up for the first time about his 2023 conviction on fraud charges.

We reported previously that Pras was convicted last April on ten criminal counts related to federal offenses including money laundering and campaign finance violations, according to the AP. Per Variety, Department of Justice special agent in charge Harry Lidsky said: “Michél played a central role in a wide-ranging conspiracy to improperly influence top government officials, including the then-president [Trump] and the then-attorney general [Sessions].” 

Luis Quesada, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, said Michél “brazenly conspired to help a foreign national launder millions of dollars in illegitimate campaign contributions into the 2012 U.S. presidential election.”

The U.S. government reportedly seized nearly $80 million from Michél and labeled him as a Chinese spy, a claim upheld by a jury. Prosecutors also alleged he earned over $100 million through his role in the financial scandal. Learn more about the case via the clip below. The 52-year-old now faces up to 22 years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for January.

Speaking to Variety about his entanglement in fraud controversy, Michél said, “I don’t know if subconsciously it was a bit exciting for me too. I like spy movies, but I never wanted to be a spy. I don’t think that’s sexy. But a part of it felt like that.”

YouTube video

Robert Meloni, a litigator on Michél’s team, said, “The government needed a prize. They needed a head, and he was the low-hanging fruit.”

Michél told Variety: “Every aspect of my life has been disrupted. I can’t bank anywhere, been kicked out of 13 banks.”

Pras is pushing for a new trial after his previous legal team used an experimental artificial intelligence program to minimize legal work. Per a report from Politico, the outlet writes: “Michel’s new attorneys argued that his Los Angeles-based lawyer David Kenner relied on the fledgling technology at critical points in Michel’s trial, contributing to “prejudicial ineffective assistance of counsel.”

Kenner “used an experimental artificial intelligence (AI) program to draft the closing argument, ignoring the best arguments and conflating the charged schemes, and he then publicly boasted that the AI program ‘turned hours or days of legal work into seconds,’” wrote Michel’s new defense team from D.C.-based ArentFox Schiff. “It is now apparent that Kenner and his co-counsel appear to have had an undisclosed financial stake in the AI program, and they experimented with it during Michel’s trial so they could issue a press release afterward promoting the program — a clear conflict of interest.”

Michél alleges in the suit that Kenner “overlooked nearly every colorable defense” and “failed to object to damaging and inadmissible testimony.”

Michél’s new attorney Peter Zeidenberg said, “We continue to believe that Mr. Michél was not afforded a fair trial, and that the jury’s verdict should be overturned. We plan to appeal this verdict and believe that Mr. Michél will, ultimately, be fully exonerated.”

Pras told Variety that he plans to fight and appeal his sentence, though he acknowledges the possibility of serving time in prison regardless.

“I’m going to fight, and I’m going to appeal, but there’s a possibility that I’m going in while I’m fighting. It’s just the reality,” he said.

Fans of the artist are hopeful that President Joe Biden will grant him a pardon before leaving office.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Joy-Ann Reid (@joyannreid)

READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Lauryn Hill Exposes Fellow Fugee Pras Michel Over ‘Baseless’ Lawsuit, Reveals Real Reason Behind Fugees Tour

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

Tanya Nolan
Terrell Owens - screenshot
Tyrese Gibson
Pharrell Williams - Depositphotos
2024 Mazda CX-90 - 17 - Original
Dr Tara S Merchant
Kelly Rowland
Chopper - screenshot
The only Christopher we acknowledge is Wallace! ✊ Commemorating the 25th Anniversary since the passing of Frank White, we are excited to announce "The Notorious B.I.G. NFT Collection" is coming soon! ????… IS this all a dream?! ???????? #BeOneOf #Tezos????https://t.co/qCYH5Tepsu pic.twitter.com/iVgLEStBMR— OneOf (@OneOfNFT) March 9, 2022
Karla Sofía Gascón
Cherelle Parker - screenshot
Read More
Aaron Pierre - screenshot
Read More
George W. Bush - Donald Trump (Getty)
Read More
Jimmy Butler & Kaitlin Nowak - screenshot
Read More
Kanye West and Bianca Censori on Grammy Red Carpet - screenshot
Read More
Damon Wayans
Read More
Denzel Washington - Gladiator II
Read More
“Carl Weber’s The Family Business: New Orleans”
Read More
Rymir Satterthwaite - screenshot
Read More
Learjet after crashing - via Grok AI
Read More

POPULAR

Tanya Nolan
Tanya Nolan Teams Up with Grammy-Winning Producers for Uplifting Gospel Single ‘Blessings’ | LISTEN Now
Terrell Owens - screenshot
Terrell Owens Blasts NFL and KC Chiefs Over Game Rigging Claims: ‘It’s Blatant and Obvious’ | VIDEO
Tyrese Gibson
Tyrese Gibson Ends Racial Profiling Lawsuit Against Home Depot
Pharrell Williams - Depositphotos
Universal Pictures Pulls the Plug on Pharrell Williams’ Star-studded Musical Adventure ‘Golden’ | VIDEO
2024 Mazda CX-90 - 17 - Original
EUR Car Review Side by Side: 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus vs. CX-90 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus
Dr Tara S Merchant
EUR Commentary By: Dr. Tara S. Merchant: Stop Jumping on the Bandwagon!
Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland Admits She Gets 'Spirited' While Cheering for Son's Basketball Games
Chopper - screenshot
Chopper Alleges Diddy's Ex Assistant Fonzworth Bentley Was Known for Stealing | Video
The only Christopher we acknowledge is Wallace! ✊ Commemorating the 25th Anniversary since the passing of Frank White, we are excited to announce "The Notorious B.I.G. NFT Collection" is coming soon! ????… IS this all a dream?! ???????? #BeOneOf #Tezos????https://t.co/qCYH5Tepsu pic.twitter.com/iVgLEStBMR— OneOf (@OneOfNFT) March 9, 2022
Notorious B.I.G. Estate Sues Retailers for Selling Unauthorized Prints of 1997 Photo
1 2 3 8,547