On Monday, a United States District Court for the Central District of California sentenced Nigerian social media influencer Ramon Abass Olorunwa, also known as Hushpuppi, to 11 years and 3 months in prison for fraud and ordered him to pay $1.7 million in restitution to two victims.
Hushpuppi was sentenced by Justice Otis D. Wright II for conspiring to launder money through a number of internet scams and for boasting about a lavish, crime-funded lifestyle on social media.
In a statement released by the court, the United States claimed that Abbas had boasted on social media about his opulent lifestyle, which was made possible by his participation in international fraud and money-laundering schemes that targeted victims all over the world.
"This significant sentence is the result of years of cooperation among law enforcement in numerous countries and should send a clear warning to international fraudsters that the FBI will seek justice for victims, regardless of whether criminals operate within or outside United States borders," according to the statement.
Hushpuppi, who entered a guilty plea on July 28, 2021, named Abba Kyari, a serving Deputy Commissioner of Police, as a co-conspirator in his $1.1 million fraud.
The next day, on July 29, 2021, a US Court authorized the FBI to arrest Abba Kyari after his communication with Hushpuppi had been made public.