Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, one of the founding members of the Fugees, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States government and for making foreign and conduit campaign contributions.
The four-count indictment, handed down by the Justice Department, alleges Pras and Malaysian financier, Low Taek Job — also known as Jho Low — worked together to make and conceal foreign campaign contributions during the 2012 Presidential election.
According to the indictment, between June 2012 and November 2012, Low directed the transfer of approximately $21,600,000 from foreign entities and accounts to Michel for the purpose of funneling significant sums of money into the United States presidential election, as purportedly legitimate contributions.
In order to work around campaign contributions limits, Pras allegedly paid approximately $865,000 of the money received from Low to about 20 straw donors, or conduits, illegally giving Low's donations different faces to make them small enough to be legal.
Pras was also charged with 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.
“Mr. Michel is extremely disappointed that so many years after the fact, the government would bring charges related to 2012 campaign contributions,” said defense lawyer Barry Pollack to the Associated Press. “Mr. Michel is innocent of these charges and looks forward to having the case heard by a jury.”
Low, who remains at large, released a statement through his lawyer in which he denies involvement in the crimes described, and fiercely states his innocence.
"The allegations against Mr. Low have no basis in fact," said a spokesperson for Low, through his attorneys, on a website set up to track the businessman's legal turmoil. "Mr. Low has never made any campaign contributions directly or indirectly in the U.S. and he unequivocally denies any involvement in, or knowledge of, the alleged activities.”
Low also faces Department of Justice charges for his role in the 1MDB scandal — a money laundering and fraud scandal, which led to the funding of Leonardo DiCaprio's film "The Wolf Of Wall Street."
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