Embattled Instagram billionaire facing wire fraud charges in the United States, Ramoni Abbas, more popularly known as Hushpuppi, has settled for a gov
Embattled Instagram billionaire facing wire fraud charges in the United States, Ramoni Abbas, more popularly known as Hushpuppi, has settled for a government lawyer after his case was transferred to another district in California and he was denied bail on Monday.
Hushpuppi 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.
American prosecutors had earlier said Mr Abbas would still be transferred to Los Angeles, a city in California. During the detention hearing on 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, Mr Abbas refused to retain Mr Pissetzky as his attorney. Rather, he requested that a court-appointed counsel be assigned to him.
If convicted, Mr Abbas would get a minimum sentence of 20 years in the U.S. federal prison.
