Fugees' Pras Michel found guilty of illegal lobbying

Ex-Fugees instrumentalist Prakazrel "Pras" Michel has been recovered blameworthy of 10 counts, including corruption, stemming from allegations helium utilized wealth to peddle power successful the US.

US prosecutors said Michel received much than $100m (£80m) from Malaysian billionaire Jho Low that was utilized successful 2 efforts to power US politics.

He denied the charges, telling jurors that helium thought it was "free money" and helium was a "celebrity surrogate".

The rapper present faces years successful prison.

Michel, 50, was convicted successful a Washington DC tribunal of run concern violations, acting arsenic an unregistered overseas agent, witnesser tampering, and lying to banks.

His lawyer, David Kenner, said that helium was disappointed with the result of the proceedings and plans to record an appeal.

"This is not over," Mr Kenner said. "I stay very, precise assured that we volition yet prevail successful this matter."

Mr Kenner said helium has besides filed motions for a mistrial.

The trial, which began connected 30 March, saw grounds from Hollywood prima Leonardo DiCaprio, arsenic good arsenic erstwhile US Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

The Grammy-winning instrumentalist was accused of bringing "secret, illegal, overseas power to bear" during the administrations of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, betwixt 2012 and 2017.

Businessman Mr Low, who funnelled wealth to Michel, is accused of stealing astir $4bn from Malaysia's sovereign wealthiness money during the infamous 1MDB scandal.

Michel was alleged to person helped lobby Trump-administration officials to wantonness their probe into Mr Low's portion successful it.

Additionally, Michel was besides accused of taking wealth to lobby US officials to extradite a US-based dissident, Guo Wengui, backmost to China.

The government's pb prosecutor, Nicole Lockhart, told jurors that Michel "was looking for different ways to beryllium paid" aft his euphony vocation stalled.

She besides said that helium "saw an accidental to marque money" done Mr Low, who "needed a antithetic benignant of help" to debar the consequences of the 1MDB scheme.

While Michel acknowledged taking wealth from Mr Low - including $20m to assistance him get a photograph with Mr Obama - helium said helium viewed the payments arsenic "free money".

Taking the basal successful his ain defence, Michel said helium besides felt "betrayed" by his advisers and employees, who helium claimed offered him atrocious proposal connected however to however to grip wealth and debar breaking the law.

He acknowledged, however, that it was "stupid" to scope retired to "friends" who were "getting visits" from the FBI astir run contributions - an thought that led to his witnesser tampering charges.