Alleged Fraud: Hushpuppi Transferred To California, Dumps Lawyer | The Source

By Akinwale Kasali

Alleged Nigerian Fraudster, Ramoni Abass Igbalode, popularly called Hushpuppi, has dumped his top Chicago lawyer and settled for a government lawyer after his case was transferred to another district.

The 37 year old who was extradited from the United Arab Emirates was resident in Dubai, and known for flaunting extravagant lifestyle on social media, was arrested last month over money laundering allegations. He was extradited to the U.S on July the 3rd.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation had earlier alleged that Hushpuppi was part of a network that made “hundreds of millions of dollars” from business email compromise frauds and other scams.

Also, the American government said Mr Abbas funded his extravagant lifestyle with stolen money.

He had hired a top lawyer in the U.S., Gal Pissetzky of the Pissetzky & Berliner law firm as his attorney.

Pissetzky, renowned for handling criminal cases in Chicago, had argued that his client sourced his money from promoting designer products on social media and a real estate investment.

It should also be noted that a Chicago court, on Monday, denied him bail and ruled that he remains in detention till his next trial date later in the year.

However, the magazine gathered that Hushpuppi’s case has been transferred to the Central District of California for prosecution.

American prosecutors had earlier said Hushpuppi would still be transferred to Los Angeles, a city in California.

During the detention hearing last Monday, the government orally renewed its motion for removal in custody and the government’s oral motion was granted.

“Accordingly, Defendant is ordered removed to the Central District of California in the custody of the U.S. Marshal forthwith. As provided by 18 U.S.C. § 3142(f), Defendant is remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal and shall remain in custody until further order of the Court,” Justice Gilbert ruled.

Transfer documents signed by Thomas G. Bruton, the Clerk of the U.S Court in Chicago, indicated that Mr Abbas was moved on Tuesday.

Moreover, in the commitment letter sent to California, Hushpuppi refused to retain Mr Pissetzky as his attorney. Rather, he requested that a court-appointed counsel be assigned to him.

If convicted, he would get a minimum sentence of 20 years in the U.S. federal prison.