US court jails Hushpuppi, orders him to pay $1.7m to victims

<p>A United States District Court for the Central District of California, on Monday, ordered a Nigerian social media influencer, Ramon Abass Olorunwa, popularly called Hushpuppi, to pay $1.7m in restitution to two victims as he bagged 11 years and 3 months in prison for fraud.</p>, <p>Justice Otis D. Wright II sentenced Hushpuppi for money laundering conspiracy through several online scams and flaunting of a luxurious, crime-funded lifestyle on social media.</p>, <p>The United States, in a statement issued by the court, stated that Abbas had bragged on social media about his lavish lifestyle – a lifestyle funded by his involvement in transnational fraud and money laundering conspiracies targeting victims around the world.</p>, <p>“This significant sentence is the result of years’ worth of collaboration among law enforcement in multiple 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.”</p>, <p>Hushpuppi who had in July 28, 2021, pleaded guilty, also identified Abba Kyari, a serving Deputy Commissioner of Police as an accomplice in his $1.1 million scam.</p>, <p>The following day, a US Court on July 29, 2021, granted an FBI warrant to arrest Abba Kyari, who was further implicated after his conversation with Hushpuppi was released.</p>