"Justice Department prosecutors said federal sentencing guidelines recommended a life sentence for Michel, whom they said "betrayed his country for money" and "lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes." "His sentence should reflect the breadth and depth of his crimes, his indifference to the risks to his country, and the magnitude of his greed," they wrote."
"A life sentence would be an "absurdly high" punishment for Michel given that it is typically reserved for deadly terrorists and drug cartel leaders, Michel's attorneys said in a court filing. "The Government's position is one that would cause Inspector Javert to recoil and, if anything, simply illustrates just how easily the Guidelines can be manipulated to produce absurd results, and how poorly equipped they are, at least on this occasion, to determine a fair and just sentence," they wrote."
Pras Michel received a 14-year prison sentence after a federal jury convicted him in April 2023 on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, for funneling millions in illegal foreign contributions to the 2012 Obama campaign. The Washington, D.C. trial included testimony from Leonardo DiCaprio and Jeff Sessions. Justice Department prosecutors said guidelines recommended life, accusing Michel of betraying his country and lying to carry out his schemes. Defense counsel called the sentence disproportionate, recommended three years, and said Michel will appeal the conviction and sentence. Michel was a founding member of the Fugees.
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