Fugees rapper Pras Michel has been ordered to hand over more than $64 million to the U.S. government after being found guilty of illegal foreign lobbying and conspiracy charges.
Michel’s defense team had argued that the amount was excessive, calling it “grossly disproportionate” to his 2023 conviction.
But in her decision, Judge Coleen Kollar-Kotelly concluded that Michel had gained “at least $64,923,226” from his crimes, which included conspiracy, witness tampering, and acting as an unregistered agent of China.
Michel, 51, is scheduled to be sentenced next month, where he could face several decades in prison.
His attorneys are requesting a much shorter term of three years instead.
“They already took 100 [million] from him and now they want another 64 [million],” said Erica Dumas, Michel’s spokeswoman, in a statement.
The charges stem from Michel’s alleged role in an international operation tied to Malaysian businessman Jho Low, who is accused of masterminding the 1MDB corruption scandal.
According to prosecutors, Michel helped direct Low’s money into U.S. politics, using it to try to end a Justice Department investigation into Low during the Trump administration, and earlier, to contribute to Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign illegally.
The high-profile 2023 trial saw testimony from major figures, including Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. A jury convicted Michel on 10 felony counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign agent.