US Court Fixes A Fresh Date For Sentencing Cyber Fraudster, Hushpuppi
Today, Tuesday 5th July, 2022 a United States Central District Court in California has fixed a fresh date for sentencing of Nigerian cyber fraudster, Ramon Abass widely known as Hushpuppi to 21st of September, 2022.
According to report, the new date was fixed by the US District Judge Otis Wright.
Recall that the former Nigerian instagram celebrity, Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE) in June 2020 and later repatriated to the United States to face trial.
But he was ordered to remain in custody pending sentencing after pleading guilty to the charges against him in July 2021.
The court’s announcement made June 24 read, “At the request of counsel, the Sentencing is CONTINUED to 9/21/2022 at 1:30 PM before Judge Otis D. Wright II, as to Defendant Ramon Olorunwa Abbas."
Hushpuppi also pleaded guilty in April 2021, according to court documents by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) to the multi-million-dollar fraud charges filed against him by the United States government.
A version of Hushpuppi’s plea agreement filed in June outlined his role in a school finance scheme, as well as several other cyber and business email compromise schemes that cumulatively caused more than $24m in losses.
Hushpuppi pleaded guilty to Count Two which is “Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering,” an offence that attracts a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment among other punishments including full restitution, his plea agreement with the U.S. government states in part.
"Hushpuppi allegedly faked the financing of a Qatari school by playing the roles of bank officials and creating a bogus website in a scheme that also bribed a foreign official to keep the elaborate pretense going after the victim was tipped off," Acting US Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison stated.
"Abass thereafter entered into a plea bargain agreement with the U.S. government in July 2021, in the hope of getting a lighter punishment.
"Despite pleading guilty, Hushpuppi will not be exempted from paying restitution," he added.
Report also had it that the sentence hearing was initially moved by Judge Wright from February 14 to July 11 and has now been moved to September 21 at the counsel’s request as stated earlier.
Photos Source:@hushpuppi Instagram
