A United States District Court for the Central District of California has finally sentenced Hushpuppi, an Instagram celebrity, to 11 years and three months in prison for fraud.
On Monday, November 7, the 40-year-old was sentenced by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who also ordered Abbas to pay $1,732,841 in compensation to two fraud victims.
Hushpuppi, according to the judge, planned to launder tens of millions of dollars through internet schemes while flaunting his opulent, crime-funded lifestyle on social media.
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He pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to participate in money laundering in April 2021, ten months after being detained in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), in June 2020.
Hushpuppi has been held in federal detention in the United States since his deportation from the UAE.
The US court statement reads:
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“Abbas 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,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada.
“Money laundering and business email compromise scams are a massive international crime problem, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement and international partners to identify and prosecute those involved, wherever they may be.”
“Ramon Abbas, a.k.a. ‘Hushpuppi,’ targeted both American and international victims, becoming one of the most prolific money launderers in the world,” said Don Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
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“Abbas leveraged his social media platforms – where he amassed a considerable following – to gain notoriety and to brag about the immense wealth he acquired by conducting business email compromise scams, online bank heists and other cyber-enabled fraud that financially ruined scores of victims and provided assistance to the North Korean regime.
“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.”
In a handwritten message to Judge Otis D Wright, Abbas apologized for his misdeeds and promised to repay his victims with personal monies. He also claimed to have only made $300,000 from the offense for which he was being prosecuted.
