Ramon Abbas, known as Hushpuppi, may face decades in jail. The National
Ramon Abbas, known as Hushpuppi, may face decades in jail. The National
Ramon Abbas, known as Hushpuppi, may face decades in jail. The National
Ramon Abbas, known as Hushpuppi, may face decades in jail. The National

Nigerian influencer Hushpuppi to be sentenced by US court in July


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The sentencing in US federal court of a Nigerian influencer known as Hushpuppi has been postponed, court documents show.

The judge in the case this week ordered a postponement until July 11 at the request of lawyers.

Hushpuppi, whose real name is Ramon Abbas, pleaded guilty in a US court to money laundering in July last year.

He could face 20 years in prison after admitting the charge in a California court.

The Instagram celebrity was arrested in Dubai in 2020 in a highly publicised raid on his luxury apartment at a five-star hotel.

Court documents said Abbas's crimes cost victims almost $24 million in total. Prosecutors previously alleged he was responsible for scams worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Abbas, with five others, was charged in an elaborate scheme to defraud a Qatari school founder and launder the proceeds through bank accounts around the world.

US authorities have credited the UAE for helping in the case.

Abbas's Instagram account, not updated since shortly before his arrest, has 2.6 million followers. His final post was about collecting a new Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Other pictures show him stepping out of a helicopter at Dubai's Atlantis The Palm resort.

  • Ramon Abbas was extradited to the US after his arrest in Dubai in 2020. He was sentenced to 11 years in jail on Monday, November 7, 2022. Photo: Dubai Police
    Ramon Abbas was extradited to the US after his arrest in Dubai in 2020. He was sentenced to 11 years in jail on Monday, November 7, 2022. Photo: Dubai Police
  • Hushpuppi posed as a property investor and businessman. Pictures from his Instagram account – which had more than two million followers before it was shut down – showed him landing at Atlantis, The Palm in a helicopter. Photo: Dubai Police
    Hushpuppi posed as a property investor and businessman. Pictures from his Instagram account – which had more than two million followers before it was shut down – showed him landing at Atlantis, The Palm in a helicopter. Photo: Dubai Police
  • Police said they had sought Hushpuppi after he was implicated in an online fraud. Photo: Dubai Police
    Police said they had sought Hushpuppi after he was implicated in an online fraud. Photo: Dubai Police
  • A police video showed the suspect apparently admitting and explaining how the fraud worked. Photo: Dubai Police
    A police video showed the suspect apparently admitting and explaining how the fraud worked. Photo: Dubai Police
  • A police video showed arrests at luxury properties in Dubai. Photo: Dubai Police
    A police video showed arrests at luxury properties in Dubai. Photo: Dubai Police
  • Hushpuppi was arrested along with 11 others, some of whom are pictured here. Photo: Dubai Police
    Hushpuppi was arrested along with 11 others, some of whom are pictured here. Photo: Dubai Police
  • Officers seized 13 luxury cars worth an estimated Dh25 million ($6.8m). The vehicles had been paid for with victims' money. Photo: Dubai Police
    Officers seized 13 luxury cars worth an estimated Dh25 million ($6.8m). The vehicles had been paid for with victims' money. Photo: Dubai Police
  • Hushpuppi with a Rolls-Royce in Dubai. The National
    Hushpuppi with a Rolls-Royce in Dubai. The National
Updated: February 05, 2022, 7:25 AM