Contrary to widespread claims circulating on social media, Nigerian Instagram personality and convicted fraudster Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, remains incarcerated in the United States.
Checks of official U.S. prison records confirm that he is serving his 11-year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI), Fort Dix, New Jersey, with a projected release date of April 2029. This dispels speculation of any early discharge or return to Nigeria.
Investigations show that the rumours were fuelled by recycled videos and photographs, many of which were recorded before his arrest in 2020. These old clips were reposted out of context, misleading viewers into believing they depicted his recent release. Fact-checkers have consistently flagged the viral content as deceptive.
Hushpuppi rose to prominence on Instagram for flaunting luxury cars, designer fashion, and private jet trips before his dramatic arrest in Dubai in 2020 by Interpol over allegations of cybercrime and large-scale fraud. He was extradited to the U.S., where he pleaded guilty to money laundering and related crimes. In November 2022, a federal court sentenced him to more than 11 years in prison and ordered him to pay millions in restitution to victims.
Although rumours of his release surface periodically, there has been no official statement or credible evidence indicating any change in his custodial status. Fact-checking organisations continue to dismiss such claims as unfounded.
This episode highlights how misinformation, often driven by recycled content, can spread rapidly online and underscores the importance of verifying claims against official records.
By Ere-ebi Agedah Imisi, Abuja
