Hushpuppi was apprehended in the United Arab Emirate (UAE), Dubai in June 2020 and extradited to the United States, where he pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2021.
According to the notice from US authorities, the trial judge, Otis Wright, has set November 7, 2022 as the date for Hushpuppi’s sentence.
The court’s notice reads, “COUNSEL ARE NOTIFIED, the Sentencing is CONTINUED to November 7, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. pertaining to Defendant Ramon Olorunwa Abbas.”
The sentence hearing was initially moved by Judge Wright from February 14 to July 11, 2022 before shifting it to September 21 and now November 7.
Hushpuppi, in July 2021, agreed to plead guilty to the multi-million-dollar fraud charges slammed against him by the American government.
He has been in prison since his arrest in Dubai and rendition to the US in June 2020.
In a dramatic twist, Mr Abbas, who initially maintained his innocence, entered into a plea bargain agreement with the US authorities in July 2021, in the hope of getting a lighter punishment.
He pleaded guilty to Count Two which is “Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering,” an offence that attracts a maximum imprisonment of 20 years among other punishments including full restitution, his plea agreement with the U.S. government states in part.
Despite pleading guilty, Mr Abbas will not be freed from paying restitution.
“Defendant understands that the defendant will be required to pay full restitution to the victim(s) of the offence to which the defendant is pleading guilty.
“Defendant agrees that, in return for the USAO’s compliance with its obligations under this agreement, the court may order restitution to persons other than the victim(s) of the offenses to which defendant is pleading guilty and in amounts greater than those alleged in the count to which defendant is pleading guilty.”
Since he is not an American citizen, he will be deported after serving his sentence and paying the restitution.
Mr Abass hopes that the maximum penalty for the offence will be reduced at his sentencing: “20 years’ imprisonment; a three-year period of supervised release; a fine of $500,000 or twice the gross gain or gross loss resulting from the offence, whichever is greater; and a mandatory special assessment of $100.”
In June 2020, the 39-year-old, who was known on social media for flaunting his lavish lifestyle, was apprehended in Dubai by special agents including Emerati police officers and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) operatives.
