Convicted fraudster and social media influencer, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, has opened up on what he did ahead of his appearance before the judge that handed him an 11-year jail sentence.
Daily Trust had reported how a United States District Court sitting at the Central District of California on Monday found Abbas guilty of laundering proceeds of a school financing scam, business email compromise and other fraudulent cyber schemes.
Justice Otis Wright II ordered the Instagram celebrity to pay $1.7m in restitution to two fraud victims.
In a video, Hushpuppi was seen communicating with his friend whose identity was not unveiled.
He was seen telling the friend that he made sure to groom himself properly and applied lip balm so that his pink lips would be presentable.
He laughed saying he didn’t want his appearance to anger the judge.
“Yes ooo.. The judge go think say I fine? How my cheeks? I no wan piss the judge off at all. I no wan piss the judge off. You no see say I don apply lip balm make my red lips show well? Na so I lie down peacefully wey I de press my phone, de look people for abroad…,” he said in pidgin amidst laughter.
The convict did not sound remorseful in the video which has elicited different responses on social media.
Abbas pleaded guilty in April 2021 to one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering.
He admitted to attempting to steal more than $1.1m from someone who wanted to fund a new children’s school in Qatar, court documents in California say.
His luxurious lifestyle came to an abrupt end in 2020, when he was arrested while living in Dubai.
