I’m a changed man, Hushpuppi begs judge

Ramon Abass, aka Hushpuppi, a convicted fraudster who is waiting for a US court to sentence him, has pleaded for mercy and said that he has changed.

Hushpuppi begged trial judge Otis Wright of the US Central District of California to tamper with justice with mercy in a handwritten letter before his sentencing in November.

He sent the judge a tearful letter on September 9 while he was being held in McFarland, California’s Central Valley Annex Prison.

The three-page letter was one of the court filings his attorneys have made so far, pleading with the judge to reduce his sentence from the range determined by the statute.

Hushpuppi pledged to refund $1.7 million in restitution to the victims of his fraudulent schemes, adding that he only benefitted $300,000 from the crimes.

“Your Honour, I totally recognise the seriousness of my offence and no amount of sorry can right my wrong in the hearts of the victims and this is why I have decided to use my personal money to offset all of the entire $1,700,000 restitution even though I only benefited a fraction of $300,000 plus but it makes me feel better that all the victims get every of their penny back,” he wrote.

Hushpuppi added, “I personally consider it as part punishment for myself and it’s the right thing to do. Your Honour, I really am a changed person in the way I think, see life and make decisions.

“My priorities in life has (sic) changed, my focus in life has shifted, I have realised how precious life and freedom is and how important it is to be on the right side of the law.

“Your Honour, I will like to plead with you to see my act of forfeiting my properties that I worked hard for, for many years, for full restitution repayment as part punishment as well.”

The Nigerian has been in detention since his arrest in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and rendition to the US in June 2020.