By Uche Amunike
The United States Central District Court in California has yet again, had embattled Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abass popularly known as Hushpuppi’s judgment postponed to September 21 as the new date for his sentence, for the multi- million dollar fraud charges he already pleaded guilty to.
Recall that Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in June 2020 and later flown to the USA where he pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2021 and thereafter kept in custody, pending his sentencing.
His sentence hearing was at first, moved from February 14 to July 11 by Judge Otis Wright, who eventually had Hushpuppi’s judgement postponed to September at the counsel’s request.
On June 24, the court’s announcement read thus: ‘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, who initially maintained that he was innocent of charges leveled against him eventually made a volte-face and entered into a plea bargain agreement with the United States government in July 2021, apparently hoping to get a lighter punishment.
He pleaded guilty to Count 2, which is ‘Conspiracy to engage in money laundering’. It is an offense that attracts a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and this includes other punishments like full restitution, according to what his plea agreement with the United States government states in part.
Unfortunately, even though he pleaded guilty, Hushpuppi will not be exempted from paying restitution.
This is as indicated in the plea agreement which reads: ‘Defendant understands that the defendant will be required to pay full restitution to the victim(s) of the offense to which the defendant is pleading guilty.’
‘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.’
As it stands, the exact sentence to be imposed on Mr. Abass is yet to be known. The prosecutor has however explained that if he ‘demonstrates an acceptance of responsibility for the offense up to and including the time of sentencing, it will recommend ‘a two-level reduction in the applicable Sentencing Guidelines offense level.’
It further added: ‘If necessary, it may move for another additional one level reduction if available under that section.’
Because he’s not an American citizen, he will be deported after completing his jail term and also, after he has paid up the restituted amount.
The maximum penalty for the offense which Hushpuppi hopes will be reduced during 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.’
Before his arrest, the 38year old Cyber fraudster was known for flaunting his extravagant lifestyle on social media and the FBI revealed in an affidavit that their investigations showed that his extravagant lifestyle was funded by proceeds of crime.
