Pras Michel Reveals Himself As An FBI Informant

In the hip-hop game and also within the Black community, the act of what is perceived as snitching may be one of the worst things a person can do. Fugees member, Pras, has reportedly admitted to committing that act at a federal trial last week.

According to Rolling Stone, Pras Michel, one-third of the New Jersey-bred hip-hop group, The Fugees, is currently on trial in federal court. The embattled rapper has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of conspiracy and falsifying records. The charges are related to Pras’ alleged involvement with Malaysian financier Jho Low who is accused of finessing $4.5 billion from Malaysia’s 1MDB sovereign wealth fund.

In a rarity, Pras decided to testify in his own defense. He reportedly told the judge in the case that he was doing so “after consulting with my attorneys and the universe.”

The case is against both Pras and Low but the financier is not in court due to his fugitive status.

Federal prosecutors accuse the Jersey recording artist of getting millions from assisting Low running foreign-influence campaigns against the United States government while Barack Obama and Donald Trump were in office. Pras is being accused of channeling money from Low to Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, and is also accused of lobbying the administration of Trump to drop an investigation into Low and extradite dissident Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui.

Pras admitted to prosecutors last week that he voluntarily met with FBI agents in an effort to assist with China’s attempts to extradite Wengui.

He told the courtroom that he was basically a “celebrity surrogate” for Low, admitting that the financier compensated him $20 million in 2012, to help him get a photo with Obama. He said initially he was “basically asked for $1 million to begin to think about how” he might be able to get Low that long-sought-after photo with Obama. Over nine months, that price tag was raised to $20 million, with Low eventually getting that photo opportunity at a White House Christmas party.

Yet, Pras stated that he never made any political donations on Low’s behalf. Anything he did he ran those activities with his attorneys and accountants to make sure that everything was done properly.

He also testified about his alleged attempts to get the U.S. to extradite Guo. He claims he was not acting as an agent for China and that he, in fact, met with FBI agents on his own on several times to discuss Guo and three Americans being held hostage in China.

“I took it upon myself to report because I thought the FBI should know,” Michel said.

CBS News reported that the Ghetto Supastar testified that “no one I spoke to ever mentioned” that he needed to register as a foreign agent if doing work on China’s behalf. He claimed if he had known, he would have done so.

Prosecutors said that Pras was in attendance at a meeting between Republican lobbyist Elliott Broidy and the Malaysian prime minister the night before the prime minister was going to meet with Trump. The rapper said he was only there to “say hello” and nothing more.

The attorneys of Pras, led by celebrity attorney David Kenner are saying that Pras believed he had acted in the best interest of the country when he did so and did not act as a foreign agent of China. They have tried several times to have the charges dismissed on various grounds of selective and illicit prosecution. They still claim that Pras was unaware of the laws he is accused of breaking.

Pras Michel Reveals Himself As An FBI Informant