Ramon Abbas, the Nigerian
Instagram celebrity with the
nomenclature “ Hushpuppi “,
has been arraigned in an
American court in California as
his trial begins on October 13.
Mr Abbas pleaded not guilty to
the four-count of conspiracy to
commit wire fraud, money
laundering conspiracies,
international money laundering
and engaging in monetary
transactions in property derived
from specified unlawful activity.
In June, the 37-year-old known
for flaunting an opulent
lifestyle on social media, was
arrested in Dubai by special
operatives of the Emerati police
and American Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI).
The FBI’s investigation,
according to the affidavit
obtained by PREMIUM TIMES,
alleged that Mr Abbas financed
this extravagant lifestyle
through crime.
He is alleged to be the leader of
a group that facilitates computer
intrusion, business email
compromise (BEC) fraud and
money laundering.
His targeted victims, majorly in
the U.S, had been duped of
hundreds of millions of dollars,
the FBI says.
In July, Mr Abbas alongside
Olalekan Ponle, popularly
known as Woodberry, was
extradited to Chicago in the
United States where he was first
arraigned.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor kickstarted the
process of arraignment by filling necessary
documents and forms after his first
appearance on August 17.
After the pre-trial services, Mr Abbas
entered a plea, insisting that he is not guilty
of the charges.
In the documents obtained by PREMIUM
TIMES, Mr Abbas agreed to go to trial with
his lawyer, Vicki Podberesky, a top-rated
lawyer in California.
Mrs Podberesky will be assisted by Gal
Pissetzky, a Chicago-based lawyer appearing
pro hac vice because he is not licensed to
practise outside Chicago.
Nevertheless, he has pleaded that he should
be prosecuted with complaint and not
indictment. This he did by filing a waiver of
indictment accepted by the court.
Hushpuppi arraigned; trial set
to begin in U.S.
Ramon Abbas, the Nigerian
Instagram celebrity with the
nomenclature “ Hushpuppi “,
has been arraigned in an
American court in California as
his trial begins on October 13.
Mr Abbas pleaded not guilty to
the four-count of conspiracy to
commit wire fraud, money
laundering conspiracies,
international money laundering
and engaging in monetary
transactions in property derived
from specified unlawful activity.
In June, the 37-year-old known
for flaunting an opulent
lifestyle on social media, was
arrested in Dubai by special
operatives of the Emerati police
and American Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI).
The FBI’s investigation,
according to the affidavit
obtained by PREMIUM TIMES,
alleged that Mr Abbas financed
this extravagant lifestyle
through crime.
He is alleged to be the leader of
a group that facilitates computer
intrusion, business email
compromise (BEC) fraud and
money laundering.
His targeted victims, majorly in
the U.S, had been duped of
hundreds of millions of dollars,
the FBI says.
In July, Mr Abbas alongside
Olalekan Ponle, popularly
known as Woodberry, was
extradited to Chicago in the
United States where he was first
arraigned.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor kickstarted the
process of arraignment by filling necessary
documents and forms after his first
appearance on August 17.
After the pre-trial services, Mr Abbas
entered a plea, insisting that he is not guilty
of the charges.
In the documents obtained by PREMIUM
TIMES, Mr Abbas agreed to go to trial with
his lawyer, Vicki Podberesky, a top-rated
lawyer in California.
Mrs Podberesky will be assisted by Gal
Pissetzky, a Chicago-based lawyer appearing
pro hac vice because he is not licensed to
practise outside Chicago.
Nevertheless, he has pleaded that he should
be prosecuted with complaint and not
indictment. This he did by filing a waiver of
indictment accepted by the court.
A complaint is the statement of the law
enforcement agents containing essential
facts of the offenses.
On the other hand, to obtain an indictment,
a prosecutor must present proposed charges
to a grand jury – a body of jurors that
investigates crimes and decides whether
charges should be filed.
His decision to opt for complaint might be
borne out of the criticism that the grand jury
is easily manipulated by the prosecutor,
undermining its objectivity and fairness.
Mr Abbas and his counsel, Mrs Podberesky,
are to appear before District Judge Otis D.
Wright II by 9 a.m on October 13.
If convicted, the one-time Instagram
sensation may spend the next 20 years in the
U.S federal prison.
