Further details have emerged of the ostentatious lifestyle of detained Instagram influencer, Ray Hushpuppi who is currently standing trial in the United States over fraud and cybercrime-related offences.
Hushpuppi, whose real name is Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, is reported to have spent a whopping $230,000 (over N115,000,000) on a Richard Mille wristwatch.
The development was disclosed by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ); as part of details into a fresh indictment against the popular socialite.
The latest indictment, a three-count charge includes conspiracy to commit wire fraud; conspiracy to engage in money laundering, and aggravated identity theft; with the US DoJ also revealing that the scheme involved three US-based Nigerians who were arrested last week; as well as three defendants believed to be in Africa.
The indictment allegedly involved an elaborate scheme to steal more than $1.1 million from a businessperson attempting to finance the construction of a school for children in Qatar; as well as the subsequent laundering of the illicit proceeds through bank accounts around the world.
Thereafter, Hushpuppi was said to have splurged $230,000 being part of the proceeds of the scam on the Richard Mille RM11-03 watch.
The luxury piece was reportedly hand delivered to Hushpuppi in Dubai.
Also, it was subsequently said to have appeared in Hushpuppi’s social media posts, mainly on Instagram.
Meanwhile, the widening circle of the investigation has seemingly roped in DCP Abba Kyari; a much-celebrated ranking member of the Nigeria Police Force.
An arrest warrant has now been issued by a US court for Kyari after being accused of participating in the fraud.
A fallout over the sharing of the proceeds between Hushpuppi and Kelly Chibuzo Vincent; another co-conspirator on the $1.1m fraud had led to the involvement of the super cop, Kyari; whom Hushpuppi accused of obtaining bribes in return for arresting and jailing Vincent after he tipped off the victim that he was being defrauded.
Kyari has, however, denied any wrongdoing; even as he disclosed that Vincent was picked up over a reported case of threat to life and subsequently released.
Hushpuppi was arrested in the UAE in June 2020 alongside 11 of his associates.
The alleged syndicate was nabbed over allegations bordering on hacking, impersonation, scamming, banking fraud, as well as identity theft.
His extradition to the US came after the UAE police announced his celebrated arrest in a special operation dubbed Fox Hunt 2; in which he was accused of defrauding 1.9 million victims to the tune of N168 billion.
Consequently, he was arraigned and detained at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Chicago ahead of his trial.
He had recently pleaded guilty to the money laundering charges against him.
Hushpuppi faces over 20 years in prison, if found guilty.
Culled from 1stNews