Hushpuppi

Several popular news platforms have reported that Abbas was once a second-hand clothes trader in Lagos Nigeria.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-03|title=Hushpuppi: Formerly A Second-hand Clothes Seller In Lagos, Now A Billionaire Fraudster|url=https://lagosnews.com.ng/hushpuppi-formerly-a-second-hand-clothes-seller-in-lagos-now-a-billionaire-fraudster/|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Lagos News|language=en-GB}} Abbas prided himself on his humble beginnings. Hushpuppi's close associate Mompha, once revealed that his dad is a cab driver in Lagos.{{Cite web|date=2017-10-27|title=Mompha Shares Photo Of The Yellow Taxi Allegedly Being Used By Hushpuppi's Dad To Earn A Living|url=https://www.gistmania.com/talk/topic,347037.0.html|access-date=2021-10-24|website=Gistmania|language=en-GB}}TheCable.ng reported that Abbas had a reputation as a "Yahoo Yahoo boy" a local Nigerian title for a cybercriminal, was not supported by his mother, had not lifted any of his old friends from poverty, and had ignored multiple warnings regarding his lifestyle.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-18|title=INSIDE STORY: The Lagos slum where Hushpuppi bought food on credit and washed cars to survive|url=https://thecable.ng/inside-lagos-slum-where-hushpuppi-bought-food-on-credit-washed-cars-for-survival|access-date=2020-12-16|website=TheCable|language=en-US}}

He is the subject of the 2017 song "Telli Person" by Nigerian singer Timaya featuring Olamide and Phyno, with whom he had a long-running feud. The song contained lyrics directed toward Abbas indirectly accusing him of being a swindler and lavishing his money on designer clothes instead of investing in profitable ventures and warning him that he would soon be caught by authorities.{{Cite web|last=Young|date=2017-08-19|title=Hushpuppi Blasts Phyno, Olamide & Timaya After Watching "telli Person" Musical Video|url=https://www.informationnigeria.com/2017/08/hushpuppi-blasts-phyno-olamide-timaya-watching-telli-person-music-video.html|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Information Nigeria|language=en-US}} Many viewed the song as a prophetic warning that was fulfilled with his arrest.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-11|title=VIDEO: "Hushpuppi Was Warned Before His Arrest" - Fans React To Timaya's Telli Person Video|url=https://www.ghgossip.com/video-hushpuppi-was-warned-before-his-arrest-fans-react-to-timayas-telli-person-video/|access-date=2020-12-16|website=GhGossip|language=en-AU}}

Upon his arrival in the United States on 3 July 2020, he was accused of conspiring to launder 'hundreds of millions of dollars'.{{Cite web|last=globalsentinelnews1|date=2020-07-03|title=Hushpupi Arraigned in US Court for Conspiring to Defraud English Premier League Club $124m (see full charges)|url=https://globalsentinelng.com/2020/07/03/hushpupi-arraigned-in-us-court-for-conspiring-to-defraud-english-premier-league-club-124m-see-full-charges/|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Global Sentinel|language=en-US}}

The affidavit also accused Abbas and a co-conspirator of conspiring to launder funds intended to be stolen through fraudulent wire transfers from a 'foreign financial institution' in which fraudulent wire transfers, totalling approximately US$14.7 million, were sent to bank accounts around the world in February 2019. Though the affidavit did not name any bank, according to Forbes, the date of the attack and amount mentioned in the affidavit matched that of the attack on Malta's Bank of Valletta in February 2019. In February 2019, $14.7 million was transferred out of the bank through false international transactions to accounts in the United States, the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, and Hong Kong.{{Cite web|title=Update 3 {{!}} BOV cyber attack: €13 million transferred out with false transactions|url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/92964/bank_of_valletta_shuts_down_operations_following_cyber_attack_|access-date=2020-12-16|website=MaltaToday.com.mt|language=en}} The attack was of such seriousness in Malta that the then Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat was forced to address the parliament. Multiple sources in Malta including Times of Malta and Malta Today also repeated Forbes's claims that Hushpuppi could have been behind the attack.{{Cite web|title=Hacker linked to BOV's €13 million cyber heist denied bail|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/hacker-linked-to-bovs-13-million-cyber-heist-denied-bail.805410|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Times of Malta|date=16 July 2020 |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|title=Nigerian scammer arrested by FBI could be behind €13m BOV cyberattack|url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/103453/nigerian_scammer_arrested_by_fbi_could_be_behind_13m_bov_cyberattack|access-date=2020-12-16|website=MaltaToday.com.mt|date=July 2019 |language=en}} According to the affidavit, Abbas provided a co-conspirator with two European bank accounts anticipating the receipt of $5.6 million each of the fraudulently obtained funds.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-03|title=Nigerian National Brought to U.S. to Face Charges of Conspiring to Launder Hundreds of Millions of Dollars from Cybercrime Schemes|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/nigerian-national-brought-us-face-charges-conspiring-launder-hundreds-millions-dollars|access-date=2020-12-16|website=www.justice.gov|language=en}} U.S. authorities also accused him of aiding North Korean hackers in money laundering.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-20/nigerian-instagram-star-aided-north-korea-cyber-crime-u-s-says|title = Nigerian Instagram Star Aided North Korea Cyber Crime, U.S. Says|newspaper = Bloomberg.com|date = 20 February 2021}}

According to the affidavit{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=|url=https://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2020/07/usa_v_abbas_complaint_0.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}} other communications between Abbas and one of his co-conspirators indicated that the two had conspired to "launder tens, and at times hundreds, of millions of dollars that were proceeds of other fraudulent schemes and computer intrusions, including a fraudulent scheme to steal £100 million ($124 million) from an English Premier League football club.

Abbas is also accused of committing fraud in Nigeria as he is also wanted by Nigeria's financial crime police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.{{Cite web|last=Okwumbu|first=Ruth|date=2020-06-19|title=Hushpuppi connected to several cyber crimes – EFCC|url=https://nairametrics.com/2020/06/19/hushpuppi-connected-to-several-cyber-crimes-efcc/|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Nairametrics|language=en-GB}}

A request for his bail and the chance to stay with his girlfriend's uncle in Homewood, Illinois, was denied on the grounds that he presented a risk of non-appearance.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-24|title=Five reasons Hushpuppi must remain in detention - U.S. Court|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/404747-five-reasons-hushpuppi-must-remain-in-detention-u-s-court.html|access-date=2020-12-16|language=en-GB}} At Abbas' detention hearing his lawyer, Pissetzky, told the court that his client posed no flight risk because of the damage it would do to his credibility online, adding, "He is loved and respected. He is a celebrity. He would not want to ruin his credibility and status rather than stay here and face these allegations."{{Cite web|last=Dawkins|first=David|title=Nigerian Influencer Ramon 'Hushpuppi' Abbas, Accused By FBI Of Money Laundering, Is Denied Bail|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddawkins/2020/07/14/nigerian-influencer-ramon-hushpuppi-abbas-accused-by-fbi-of-money-laundering-is-denied-bail/|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Forbes|language=en}} Prosecutors cited his "significant" financial assets, "deep ties to foreign countries" and a lack of ties to the United States. If convicted of conspiracy to engage in money laundering, Abbas would face a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, perhaps even 20 years, after which he will be deported to his home country Nigeria.

An article in Bloomberg Businessweek details his actions leading to his arrest, incarceration, and a trial on 27 July 2021, in Los Angeles. "Authorities say, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, perfected a simple internet scam and laundered millions of dollars. His past says a lot about digital swagger and the kinds of stories that get told online."{{Cite news|last=Ratliff|first=Evan|title=The Fall of the Billionaire Gucci Master|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2021-hushpuppi-gucci-influencer/|access-date=2021-12-05|newspaper=Bloomberg.com}}

On 28 July 2021, Hushpuppi pleaded guilty to money laundering{{Cite news|date=2021-07-29|title=Hushpuppi: Nigerian influencer pleads guilty to money laundering|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58002932|access-date=2021-07-30}} and also identified a Deputy Commissioner of Police in Nigeria, Abba Kyari, as an accomplice in his $1.1 million scam deal.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-29|title=JUST IN: Hushpuppi narrates how he bribed Nigerian top cop Abba Kyari in $1.1 million deal|url=https://gazettengr.com/just-in-hushpuppi-narrates-how-he-bribed-nigerian-top-cop-abba-kyari-in-1-1-million-deal/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=Peoples Gazette|language=en-US}} The following day, a US Court granted an FBI warrant to arrest Abba Kyari.{{Cite news|title=Nigeria respond afta US order for arrest of Abba Kyari wey dem indict for Hushpuppi fraud case|work=BBC News Pidgin|url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-58017299|access-date=2021-07-30}} The Police chief was further implicated after his conversation with Hushpuppi was released.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-30|title=FBI Releases Conversation Between Hushpuppi And Abba Kyari [See Full Text]|url=https://talkglitz.media/fbi-releases-conversation-between-hushpuppi-and-abba-kyari-see-full-text/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=talkGlitz.media|language=en-US}}

In a final appeal to Judge Otis Wright ahead of his scheduled sentencing on 19 September 2022, Hushpuppi wrote a personal letter to the court narrating his source of wealth, criminal adventure and regrets. He apologised to his family members for bringing them shame while commending the FBI for doing a thorough job while bringing him to justice.{{Cite web|last=Essien|first=Hillary|title=Hushpuppi thanks FBI for doing great job to make world safer from "criminals like myself"|url=https://gazettengr.com/hushpuppi-thanks-fbi-for-doing-great-job-to-make-world-safer-from-criminals-like-myself/|access-date=2022-09-17|website=Peoples Gazette|date=17 September 2022 |language=en}}

On 19 September 2022, Judge Otis Wright delayed Hushpuppi's sentencing to 3 November 2022. The Judge had initially rejected the plea of the defendant's motion for a delay of judgement.{{Cite web|last=Essien|first=Hillary|title=Hushpuppi scores last-minute relief as court postpones sentencing to November 2022

|url=https://gazettengr.com/hushpuppi-scores-last-minute-relief-as-court-postpones-sentencing-to-november-2022/|access-date=2022-09-19|website=Peoples Gazette|date=19 September 2022 |language=en}} On 8 November 2022, Hushpuppi was sentenced to over 11 years (135 months) in a federal prison.{{Cite news|title=Hushpuppi: Notorious Nigerian fraudster jailed for 11 years in US|work=BBC News |date=8 November 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-63542573|language=en}} He is currently imprisoned at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey and has a scheduled release date of 6 August 2029.

In November 2022, Curtis James Jackson III, a.k.a. 50 Cent, announced his plan on Instagram to shoot a television series on the life of Hushpuppi, including his fraudulent career path and sentencing.Premium Times (November 2022). Rapper 50 Cents to Produce Hushpuppi Series, retrieved:https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/564560-rapper-50-cent-to-produce-hushpuppi-series.html A short documentary about the life of Hushpuppi till his arrest has been released by both Bloomberg and BBC Africa.{{Cite news |title=The Billionaire Gucci Master and the Scam That's Bigger Than Ransomware |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2021-hushpuppi-gucci-influencer/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}BBC News (2021).Hushpuppi: the Instagram influencer and international fraudster, retrieved from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXA7rcVBslU

== References ==

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Category:1982 births

Category:Living people

Category:Businesspeople from Lagos State

Category:Nigerian fraudsters

Category:Nigerian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates

Category:Nigerian people convicted of money laundering