Ex-Fugees rapper charged in campaign finance case
Rapper Pras of the Fugees attends the launch of Jennifer Lopez's residency "JENNIFER LOPEZ: ALL I HAVE" at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on January 20, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (AP) - One of the founding members of the 1990s hip-hop group the Fugees has been charged in a campaign finance conspiracy that took place during the 2012 election.
The Justice Department announced the charges Friday against Prakazrel "Pras" Michel. A lawyer for Michel, Barry Pollack, says his client is innocent and looks forward to having the case heard by a jury.
Michel faces a separate civil forfeiture complaint accusing him in a scheme to try to get the department to drop an investigation into embezzlement from a Malaysian investment fund. Michel has denied wrongdoing.
The embezzlement from the fund, known as 1MDB, became a political scandal in Malaysia. Looted money paid for jewelry and luxury art and helped finance "The Wolf of Wall Street" and other films.