The sentence of Nigerian fraudster Ramon Abass, also known as Hushpuppi, has been postponed until September 21 by Judge Otis Wright of a United States Central District Court in California.
The court announced that the sentencing for defendant Ramon Olorunwa Abbas has been continued until 9/21/2022 at 1:30 PM before Judge Otis D. Wright II.
According to court records provided by the US Department of Justice (DoJ), Hushpuppi entered a plea of guilty to the multimillion-dollar fraud allegations that the US government had brought against him.
Hushpuppi's involvement in a school finance fraud and many other cyber and corporate email compromise operations that collectively resulted in more than $24 million in losses were detailed in a version of his plea deal that was filed in June.
His plea deal with the U.S. government indicates in part that he admitted guilt to Count Two, "Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering," which carries a potential penalty of 20 years in prison among other penalties, including full restitution.
In a scam that also involved bribing a foreign official to maintain the elaborate pretence after the victim was made aware of it, Hushpuppi is accused of pretending to be a bank official and fabricating a website in order to finance a school in Qatar.
According to Wilkison, Hushpuppi "played an important part in the operation, funded his opulent lifestyle by laundering unlawful earnings generated by con artists who utilise increasingly sophisticated ways."
In June 2020, Hushpuppi was detained in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE), and then transported to the United States. In July 2021, he entered a guilty plea to the charges, and a custody order was issued.
Judge Wright first shifted the sentencing hearing from February 14 to July 11; it has now been shifted to September 21 at the counsel's request.
Since his arrest in Dubai and extradition to the United States in June 2020, he has been in detention.
In July 2021, Hushpuppi and the US government agreed to a plea deal in the hopes of receiving a lesser sentence. Hushpuppi will not be excused from making reparations despite entering a guilty plea.
According to the prosecutor, Hushpuppi could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $500,000, or twice the gross gain or gross loss resulting from the offence, whichever is greater, as well as a mandatory special assessment of $100 for the offence.