A Nigerian Instagram influencer Hushpuppi has pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering charges in the US.

Hushpuppi, whose real name is Ramon Abass, admitted to stealing at least $24million out of businesses around the world including $1million meant for a children’s hospital in Qatar.

He now faces spending the next 20 years of his life behind bars.

His guilty plea bargain was filed at a U.S. Central District Court of California on July 4.

Hushpuppi gained fame on Instagram posting images of his luxury lifestyle and motivational messages to millions of followers.

Kristi Johnson, who leads the FBI’s office in LA, said Hushpuppi was ‘among the most high-profile money launderers in the world’ and was part of a network that defrauded businesses across the globe. 

Acting US attorney Tracy L. Wilkison added: “Mr. Abbas, who played a significant role in the scheme, funded his luxurious lifestyle by laundering illicit proceeds generated by con artists who use increasingly sophisticated means. 

“In conjunction with our law enforcement partners, we will identify and prosecute perpetrators of business email compromise scams, which is a massive and growing international crime problem.”

Abbas grew up the son of a taxi-driver father and bread-seller mother in a poor town near Lagos before moving to a penthouse in Dubai.