The United States Bureau of Prisons announced that it will investigate convicted internet fraudster Ramon “Hushpuppi” Abbas after a video allegedly showing him holding a feast in jail went viral.
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Hushpuuppi, who is currently serving an 11-year term, is accused of organising a feast with other inmates at his holding facility in Fort Dix, New Jersey. The feast was said to be in honour of his friend, social media personality Tunde Adekunle, also known as Tunde Ednut, who celebrated his birthday on January 22, 2024.
“We take these matters seriously,” the prison institution informed Nigerian online publication Peoples Gazette on Thursday night, February 1, adding that the “investigative department” would lead the investigation to determine the facts—or lack thereof—about the viral video.
The viral video of the feast purportedly shows a lavish spread of different foods, including jollof rice, pasta and soda drinks, in what appeared to be a prison facility.
“Tunde Ednut, you can see that we are celebrating you in our own little way o,” said a voice alleged to be Hushpuppi’s.
“Fried rice is ready, Tunde Ednut birthday celebration. Jollof loading, pasta is here as you can see,” the voice continued as the person, who hid his face behind the camera, displayed a variety of delicacies on a white table.
The footage also shows a grey double bunk and a bed wrapped in white sheets, fueling conjecture that the feast was held in a US jail.
Hushpuppi, 41, was convicted of participating in a multimillion-dollar multinational fraud scam in 2022. He was captured in Dubai and extradited to the United States to face justice for his crimes.
In the early years of his incarceration, Abbas reportedly enrolled in prison educational classes and actively participated in cleaning prison facilities in order to receive a reduced term.
On January 19, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Los Angeles declined Abbas’ plea to reconsider and lower his 11-year sentence based on his good behaviour during his stay.