The United States District Court for the Central District of California has rejected a plea put forward by arrested Instagram fraudster Ramon “Hushpuppi” Abbas seeking release from jail. 

Court documents seen by Peoples Gazette said Judge Otis D. Wright in Los Angeles issued the rejection based on letters written by Mr Abass to the judge. 

“NOTICE OF DISCREPANCY AND ORDER: by Judge Otis D. Wright, II ORDERING MOTION COMPASSIONATE RELEASE submitted by Defendant Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, received on 7/21/22 is not to be filed but instead rejected. Denial based on: Local Rule 83-2.5 No letters to the judge,” the court document said. 

Mr Abbas has been in custody since his arrest in Dubai and transfer to the United States in June 2020. 

He is awaiting his sentencing. On June 24, the judge announced September 21 as the new sentencing date.

“At the request of counsel, the Sentencing is CONTINUED to 9/21/2022 at 1:30 PM before Judge Otis D. Wright II, as to Defendant Ramon Olorunwa Abbas,” the court’s document had said.  

The internet fraudster was tried for swindling people across different continents to the tune of millions of dollars. 

He pleaded guilty last year to “conspiracy to engage in money laundering,” an offence that attracts a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, among other punishments including full restitution. 

Mr Abass entered a plea bargain agreement with the U.S. government in July 2021, seeking a lighter sentence.

In June 2020, Mr Abbas was arrested in Dubai following an intensive police operation named ‘Fox Hunt 2’. 

Intelligence agencies noted that his crimes bordered on money laundering, cyber fraud, hacking, criminal impersonating, scamming individuals, banking fraud and identity theft committed outside the United Arab Emirates.