The verified Instagram handle of, Abbas Ramoni, popularly known as Hushpuppi, has been deactivated by Meta, the parent company of the platform, following concerns of steady increase in the number of followers since his arrest for money laundering in June 2020.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations, FBI, on 8th September 2022, noted with concern, the soaring followership on Hushpuppi’s Instagram account which had grown with an additional 500,000 followers since his arrest, to bring his total followership to a whopping 2.8 million followers.
Hushpappi’s last post, a photograph of a white Rolls Royce Cullinan from 6th June, 2020, has over 100,000 comments, many idolizing him.
Instagram was initially reluctant to deactivate Hushpuppi’s handle as he did not fit into the categories of persons or organization that should have their accounts deleted.
Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai by a joint team of Dubai Police and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation in June 2020 for alleged fraud on different victims, including American citizens. He was then extradited to the US, and charged with multiple counts of hacking, impersonation, scamming banking fraud, and identity theft.
Prior to his arrest, Hushpuppi showcased an extravagant lifestyle on his Instagram handle and was idolized by many young minds. He had over 2 million followers on his Instagram handle which was filled with pictures of him posing with luxury cars, private jets and designer clothes. His handle was later used by the FBI as part of documents to create a case against him.
Huspuppi’s Instagram handle is now deleted, two years after his arrest.
Story: Hauwa Mohammed