Currently, Hushpuppi is serving an 11-year sentence in the United States for his involvement in international fraud.
Johnson, who was once listed among the FBI’s most-wanted individuals and now advises companies like Microsoft on cybersecurity, shared his insights with The PUNCH during the recent GITEX Global event held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
He noted that while he was fortunate enough to receive a second chance after his criminal past, Abbas may find it difficult to access similar opportunities due to systemic barriers.
“Hushpuppi may never get the second chance I did,” Johnson said, highlighting the challenges Abbas may face because of his background.
“I don’t know what type of opportunity that man is going to have because of where he is from. That’s the truth, and I think that’s a damn shame, but that’s the way the world is working right now,” he said.
Johnson was the mastermind behind ShadowCrew, an early online platform for illegal activities that contributed to the emergence of contemporary darknet markets.
He was ultimately apprehended and worked with the Secret Service in the capacity of a consultant and informant.
In further discussion, Johnson highlighted the racial and socio-economic disparities that frequently hinder rehabilitation opportunities, asserting, “The reality is that white males have greater chances than he (Abbas) will have.”
The cybersecurity specialist anticipates that Abbas will face considerable challenges in his efforts to reconstruct his life post-incarceration.
Before his arrest in Dubai in 2020, Hushpuppi had garnered over two million followers on Instagram. Renowned for showcasing a lavish lifestyle, Abbas is accused of financing his extravagance through complex schemes that deceived victims globally.
Johnson believes that incarceration could present a chance for personal growth.
“I was told this when I went to prison: whatever you don’t like about yourself, whatever you want to change, you have the opportunity to change that in prison,” he said. “If you’re a criminal and you want a different life, you can work on that from prison and change your life.”
Johnson encouraged Abbas to utilize his time in prison for personal development, promoting the idea of crime rehabilitation. “It’s more beneficial to assist others than to harm them,” he emphasized.