Pras, professionally known as Prakazrel Samuel Michel, has been ordered to pay $64 million two years after he was convicted of illegal foreign lobbying and conspiracy charges.
As Billboard reports, on Oct 30, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled that the Fugees rapper “obtained proceeds in the amount of at least $64,923,226 from his offenses,” including conspiracy, witness tampering, and failing to register as an agent of China.
The delayed ruling comes after Michel underwent emergency surgery for colon cancer removal in August. With the hearing now concluded, the case moves toward sentencing and a likely appeal. His attorneys have already signaled plans to challenge both the conviction and the financial penalty.
He will be sentenced to additional punishment at a court date expected in December.
Erica Dumas, a spokeswoman on Michel’s’ team, pushed back on the dollar amount. “They already took 100 [million] from him and now they want another 64 [million].”
Earlier this year, it was reported that Michel was being considered for a presidential pardon
Michel found stardom as a member of the Fugees, who are regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop groups of the 1990s. Their final album The Score, released in 1996, was certified seven times platinum sales by the RIAA.
He is currently working on a documentary with Mark Wahlberg which explores Michel’s legal saga.
The project promises an unfiltered look at Pras’ journey through one of the most complex and politically charged cases in recent music history, a story that has captivated audiences with its intersection of hip-hop culture, international politics, and the American justice system.