Fugees member Pras sentenced to 14 years in prison
Fugees rapper Pras has been hit with a 14-year prison sentence after being found guilty of conspiracy and illegal foreign lobbying charges.
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly handed down the 53-year-old’s sentence in a federal court in Washington, D.C., on November 20th. He will surrender to authorities on January 27th, 2026.
In addition to 14 years behind bars, he was sentenced to three years’ probation. This comes after being ordered to pay $64 million last month.
Pras was convicted of conspiracy, witness tampering, failing to register as an agent of China, and other counts in 2023.
He was accused of orchestrating a foreign influence campaign to get the US to drop an investigation into fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low. Prosecutors claimed he betrayed his country for money and stated that similar cases had seen decades-long sentences.
Pras’ legal team claimed the government’s desired sentence was one “typically reserved for terrorists who murder innocents and the heads of the largest Mexican drug cartels.”
His spokesperson, Erica Dumas, told Billboard, “Pras has spent his career breaking barriers and defying expectations. While today marks a difficult moment, it is not the end of his story or his legacy. He is profoundly grateful for the continued support of those who believe in him as he prepares for what lies ahead.”
Pras was diagnosed with colon cancer earlier this year, resulting in one of his court hearings being pushed back.
Dumas said at the time, “Pras missed Friday’s sentencing hearing while undergoing emergency surgery for colon cancer removal. We stand with him and his family and wish him a full recovery as he addresses this serious health matter.”
She added that he was “recovering right now until he is in the clear and focused on spending time with his family ahead of sentencing. He still remains hopeful for his future.”
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