A U.S. court has postponed Nigerian scammer Ramon Abbas’s sentencing hearing from Valentine’s Day to July 11.
According to reports, the social media influencer’s hearing was postponed from February 14 to July 11 by Judge Otis. D. Wright in Los Angeles Superior Court following a request by his defense attorney.
“At the request of counsel, the sentencing is continued to July 11, 2022, at 11:00 am,” the judge said in a statement on February 2, 2022.
Abbas, better known by his Instagram username, Hushpuppi, was convicted of conspiring with others to steal $124 million.
His victims included a U.S. law firm which transferred $40 million to a bank account controlled by Hushpuppi and his associates.
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Hushpuppi, 39, inspired millions of social media followers by sharing photos of his extravagant lifestyle on his still-live Instagram page.
Photos showed Hushpuppi posing with his fleet of luxury vehicles and private jets. He spent millions on designer bags and clothing by Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Fendi. And he counted rappers, professional athletes and Nigerian politicians among his many friends.
In June 2020, Dubai police raided Hushpuppi’s Palazzo Versace penthouse and arrested him. He was extradited from Dubai to Chicago, Il., where a bond request was denied.
He was then transported to Los Angeles, California to face money laundering charges.
On July 28, 2021, Hushpuppi pleaded guilty to money laundering. He faces a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. Upon his release, he will be deported to his home country Nigeria.
