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UPDATE: Ex-Fugees Rapper Pras Indicted In Campaign Finance Conspiracy Involving $21.6 Million

The hip-hop star reportedly committed financial fraud during the 2012 presidential elections.
  • UPDATE:

    Pras is speaking out in reply to an indictment he now faces involving campaign a $21.6 million finance conspiracy.

    The former Fugees rapper was just hit with a four-count indictment by the Department of Justice as part of an ongoing investigation into an international campaign finance conspiracy case.

    Speaking with TMZ Live on Tuesday (May 14), Pras revealed federal agents nearly raided him during a recording session. He was also directly asked whether he had any financial dealings with Malaysian financier Jho Low, who the feds believe funneled illegal donations through the emcee.

    Apparently he does plan to respond to the federal indictment, but only through his music. Pras’ next project is an EP titled Elon Musk and it’s supposedly dropping next month.

    He did admit to making donations to Obama, but says they were fully legal. He also denies any illegitimate activity with Low, but does admit they’ve met.

  • PREVIOUS:

    Pras, a former rapper for Fugees, has been hit with a four-count indictment by the Department of Justice as part of an ongoing investigation looking into an international campaign finance conspiracy case.

    In a press release published last Friday (May 10), the federal department is accusing Pras — whose real name is Prakazrel Michel — of helping Malaysian financier Jho Low make and conceal foreign contributions during the 2012 presidential elections. By law, U.S. political campaigns cannot accept contributions from foreign sources according to the Federal Election Committee.

    In a detailed breakdown, the Justice department says that Low sent Pras approximately $21.6 million between June 2012 and November 2012. From there, Pras reportedly funneled $865,000 of the funds to straw donors who then donated the money into an as-of-yet unnamed presidential candidate’s campaign as legitimate contributions.

    Prosecutors said that an additional $1 million was also placed with an independent expenditure committee by Pras. It is not yet clear if this committee is wrapped up in the campaign finance fraud case but both cases are currently being investigated.

    The authorities caught onto the conspiracy after the involved committees submitted financial reports to the Federal Election Commission in 2013. The documents, which included an amended report, were marked as falsified reports for not properly identifying the true sources of the 2012 political donations.

    The former rapper had a court hearing last Friday (May 10) where he pleaded not guilty according to Deadline.

    Michel and Low are also facing separate civil charges regarding an embezzlement case involving the Malaysian-government backed investment fund, IMDB, according the Associated Press.

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