The case of a suspected Nigerian swindler, RAMON OLORUNWA ABBAS also known has Hushpuppi, has drawn several interests across the globe and it is largely monitored by Financial Crime Agents in different countries where he allegedly swindled several citizens. A lot of Cyber forensic and security professionals, and individuals are also keeping tabs on every development of the case since the time the suspected fraudster was arrested in Dubai.
Hushpuppi and accomplice, Olalekan Jacon Ponle a.k.a Mr Woodberry were extradited to the United States after their arrest in Dubai. He arrived in Chicago on Thursday evening, July 2, and made his initial U.S. court appearance on Friday morning in Chicago and he was later confirmed as an inmate of Federal Bureau Prisons in Chicago with registration number 54313-424.
Despite been denied bail recently by a Chicago court which ordered that he remains in detention till his next trial date later in the year, speculations about his release have gone viral after a search via Inmate Locator Information on Federal Bureau Prisons’ website indicated that the suspected fraudster has been released on Monday, 20th July 2020.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) accused Hushpuppi of funding his extravagant lifestyle from “hundreds of millions of dollars” from business email compromise frauds and other scams. Such a ‘grand fraud case’ cannot miss the media and press after 48 hours of release if the suspect has been granted a total freedom.
Hushpuppi may have been released from Federal Prison custody on Monday but transferred to a State Prison custody since his case was transferred to California. Justice Gilbert who presided over his case in Chicago was quoted saying;
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.
The suspected Nigerian fraudster was reportedly moved to California on Tuesday July 14, as confirmed by transfer documents signed by Thomas G. Bruton, the Clerk of the U.S Court in Chicago.
However, Hushpuppi is still missing in Califonia Prison according to CDCRInmate Locator, Public inmate locator system. The CDCR Inmate locator, unlike the Federal Inmate Locator allows you to search for inmates with their first names and other names. Results after searching for every name in Hushppupi’s real names (RAMON OLORUNWA ABBAS) provided no match.
Meanwhile, Hushpuppi’s legal representative Gal Pissetzky has denied rumours that his client has been released from prison, claims Ramon Abbas is still on his way to California for further trial.
However, the reason why Carlifonia’s Public inmate locator system has no information about the custody of the suspected fraudster 48 hours after his release from Chicago’s Federal prison is yet unclear.