A United States Central District Court in California has postponed the sentencing of alleged Nigerian fraudster, Ramon Abass, popularly known as Hushpuppi, for the second time.
The presiding judge, Otis Wright, postponed Hushpuppi sentencing to September 21. “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”, the court said.
According to court documents by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ), Hushpuppi in April 2021, pleaded ‘guilty’ 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 e-mail compromise schemes that cumulatively caused more than $24 million in losses. He pleaded ‘guilty’ to Count-2, 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.
Acting United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison said 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. Wilkison stated that Hushpuppi played “a significant role in the scheme, funding his luxurious lifestyle by laundering illicit proceeds generated by con artists who use increasingly sophisticated means”.
Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE) in June 2020, and subsequently flown to the U.S. He pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2021 and was ordered to remain in custody pending sentencing. The sentencing hearing was initially moved by Judge Wright from February 14 to July 11, which has now been moved to September 21 at the counsel’s request.
He has been in custody since his arrest in Dubai and rendition to the US in June 2020.
