UPDATE: US COURT FIXES SEPTEMBER 21 FOR SENTENCING HUSHPUPPI
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On Tuesday, the United States Central District Court in California scheduled Ramon Abass, also known as Hushpuppi, a Nigerian fraudster, for sentencing on September 21.
According to a Premium Times story, Judge Otis Wright has again delayed Hushpuppi’s sentencing.
According to a statement released by the court on June 24, “At the request of counsel, the sentencing is CONTINUED to 9/21/2022 at 1:30 PM before Judge Otis D. Wright II, pertaining to Defendant Ramon Olorunwa Abbas.”
Recall that in April 2021, Hushpuppi entered a guilty plea.
According to court records from the US Department of Justice (DoJ) on the significant fraud allegations brought against him by the US government.
Hushpuppi’s involvement in a school finance fraud and several other cyber and corporate email compromise operations that collectively resulted in more than $24 million in losses were revealed in a version of his plea deal that was filed in June.
He entered a guilty plea to “Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering,” which is Count Two.
According to Hushpuppi’s plea deal with the US authorities, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail as well as other penalties like full restitution.
Hushpuppi is accused of fabricating the funding of a school in Qatar by posing as bank representatives and setting up a fake website. The scheme also involved bribing a foreign official to maintain the elaborate pretense after the victim was made aware of it, according to acting US Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison.
Wilkison stated that Hushpuppi played “a significant role in the scheme, funded his luxurious lifestyle by laundering illicit proceeds generated by con artists who use increasingly sophisticated means.”
Hushpuppi was apprehended in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE) in June 2020, and subsequently flown to the U.S., Hushpuppi pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2021 and was ordered to remain in custody pending sentencing.
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.
He has been in custody since his arrest in Dubai and rendition to the U. S. in June 2020.
Hushpuppi thereafter entered into a plea bargain agreement with the U.S. government in July 2021, in the hope of getting a lighter punishment.
Wilkison stated that Hushpuppi played “a significant role in the scheme, funded his luxurious lifestyle by laundering illicit proceeds generated by con artists who use increasingly sophisticated means.”
Hushpuppi was apprehended in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE) in June 2020, and subsequently flown to the U.S., Hushpuppi pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2021 and was ordered to remain in custody pending sentencing.
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.
He has been in custody since his arrest in Dubai and rendition to the U. S. in June 2020.
Hushpuppi 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.
“Defendant understands that the defendant will be required to pay full restitution to the victim(s) of the offence to which the defendant is pleading guilty,” the plea agreement read.
“Defendant agrees that, in return for the USAO’s compliance with its obligations under this agreement, the court may order restitution to persons other than the victim(s) of the offenses to which defendant is pleading guilty and in amounts greater than those alleged in the count to which defendant is pleading guilty.”
The prosecutor said the maximum penalty for the offence that Hushpuppi hopes will be reduced at his sentencing include “20 years’ imprisonment; a 3-year period of supervised release; a fine of $500,000 or twice the gross gain or gross loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greatest; and a mandatory special assessment of $100.”
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