Rapper Pras Michel testifies that he voluntarily conferred with the FBI when he received millions from current-fugitive Jho Low.
On April 18th, Pras Michel opted to testify in his federal conspiracy trial, explaining he made the decision “after consulting with my attorneys and the universe.”
The 50-year-old Fugees rapper admitted during his testimony that he voluntarily shared information with the FBI during China’s effort to extradite rogue Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui with the help of Malaysian financier and current fugitive Jho Low.
Michel says he voluntarily met with FBI agents several times to discuss Guo and three Americans held hostage in China.
“I took it upon myself to report because I thought the FBI should know,” Michel explained. The admission drew accusations that Pras was an ‘FBI informant,’ including from Rolling Stone magazine.
Michel is currently facing charges related to conspiracy and falsifying records, to which he has pled not guilty. These charges relate to Low’s alleged crimes — chiefly that he stole $4.5 billion from Malaysia’s 1MDB sovereign wealth fund.
Prosecutors claim Michel pocketed millions from Low during the Barack Obama and Donald Trump presidential administrations after Michel first met Low in a nightclub in 2006. Michel called himself a “celebrity surrogate” for Low, stating he was paid $20 million to help Low obtain a photo with Obama in 2012.
Michel later explained he met Low when he was interested in entering politics as a means “to help people.” He clarified that he was “just dabbling” and never thought he would be “full-time into politics.”
“The problem with politics is this: It’s that the people within politics, they’re dirtier than the people who are not in politics,” Michel told Rolling Stone.
The rapper insists that he has never made political donations on Low’s behalf. If convicted of his charges, Michel faces 22 years in prison.
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio testified in the trial earlier this month, claiming that he was impressed by Low’s reputation for being “sort of a prodigy in the business world, and ultra-successful.”