(NewsNation) — Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel of the Fugees was sentenced to 14 years in prison for illegally funneling foreign money into former President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.

Michel declined to make a statement before U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced him on Thursday.

Prosecutors argued that federal sentencing guidelines recommended a life sentence for Michel, accusing him of having “betrayed his country for money” and lying “unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes.”

Michel’s defense attorney, Peter Zeidenberg, called the 14-year sentence “completely disproportionate to the offense,” noting he plans to appeal his conviction and sentence. He had requested a three-year prison sentence, arguing a life sentence would be an “absurdly high,” typically reserved for terrorists and cartel leaders.

Michel is expected to surrender himself to authorities on Jan. 27, 2026, Rolling Stone reported.

Michel was convicted in April 2023 of 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. His trial in Washington, D.C., included testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

A founding member of the Fugees, Michel secured more than $120 million from Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, and directed some of the money through straw donors to Obama’s campaign, prosecutors said. They also said Michel attempted to interfere with a Justice Department investigation into Low, tampered with witnesses and committed perjury.

Low, who has lived in China, was a key financier of “The Wolf of Wall Street,” a movie starring DiCaprio. Low is a fugitive but has maintained his innocence.

Michel previously sought a new trial, partly arguing his former attorney improperly relied on a generative AI program during closing arguments. The judge rejected that request in August 2024, finding the issues did not amount to a miscarriage of justice.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.