Pras Faces $65 Million Forfeiture and Sentencing Next Month
Pras Michel, a founding member of the Fugees, is grappling with mounting legal troubles. While already facing sentencing on January 29 for criminal conspiracy charges — which could land him in prison for life — the government has filed a motion demanding nearly $65 million in forfeiture.
Federal prosecutors made their move on Thursday (December 19), filing a request for an order of forfeiture. The filing asks the court to issue a judgment against Pras totaling $64,923,226.40.
This hefty amount reportedly stems from payments of $104.24 million made to Pras by Malaysian businessman Jho Low. The funds were allegedly part of schemes to influence U.S. government officials, including an effort to end an investigation into Low’s embezzlement from the 1MDB investment fund and to extradite a Chinese national. Around $37 million of the total was addressed in a separate 2018 case, leaving the current $65 million as the unresolved balance.
So far, the court has not indicated whether the judge will approve the government’s forfeiture request.
Meanwhile, prosecutors are advocating for a “significant” prison sentence, though Pras is asking for three years in prison followed by two years of supervised release.
As Pras prepares for sentencing, his ties with the Fugees appear to have all but dissolved. In a recent interview with Variety, he opened up about feeling abandoned by friends during his legal battles. While he didn’t directly name Wyclef Jean or Ms. Lauryn Hill, his comments seemed aimed at his former bandmates.
“I’m done with that. They’re going to Europe [to tour]. I can’t go, so,” Pras said. “You can’t give people that kind of energy… I believe what’s mine, no one’s going to be able to take it away from me.”
This estrangement also surfaced in an October lawsuit where Pras accused Lauryn Hill of fraud and breach of contract over their canceled reunion tour, alleging financial mismanagement and other grievances.
As the sentencing date approaches, the future looks uncertain for the once-celebrated rapper.