NEW YORK, Nov. 21 -- Fugees rapper Prakazrel "Pras" Michel has been sentenced to 14 years in a US prison in a foreign-money scheme that prosecutors say began with more than US$120 million (RM497 million) from Malaysian financier Jho Low - cash Low allegedly wanted to use to secure a coveted photograph with then-US president Barack Obama.

Michel, 52, was convicted of illegally funnelling part of the money into Obama's 2012 re-election campaign through straw donors.

Prosecutors said he also tried to derail a US Justice Department investigation into Low, whose real name is Low Taek Jho.

Michel's lawyers argued that Low's donations were not driven by any US policy ambitions but by vanity.

"Low's motivation for giving Mr Michel money to do...