Things for former Fugees member, Pras Michel, aren't looking too good these days. Pras got hit with charges related to federal campaign finance crimes. The indictment included “conspiracy to defraud the United States government and for making foreign and conduit campaign contributions,” and “one count of a scheme to conceal material facts and two counts of making a false entry in a record in connection with the conspiracy.”
The U.S. Justice Department claims Pras tried to help transfer $21.6M into the United States from a Malaysian businessman who goes by Jho Low who was also included in the indictment. According to the Justice Department, the money came in the country within a six-month window between June 2012 and November 2012. Although the candidates who were to receive this donation of sorts aren't named, the money was alleged to be for the purpose of “funneling significant sums of money into the United States presidential election as purportedly legitimate contributions, all while concealing the true source of the money.”
In a statement to Pitchfork, Pras' lawyer, Barry J. Pollack said, "Mr. Michel is extremely disappointed that so many years after the fact the government would bring charges related to 2012 campaign contributions. Mr. Michel is innocent of these charges and looks forward to having the case heard by a jury.”
According to CNN, Pras pleaded not guilty to the four charges that he was hit with.
