Behind the Philanthropy: How 'Classic Baggie' Led a Global Online Scam Syndicate

 

Once hailed as a philanthropic young entrepreneur in Nigeria, Ehonre Oluwaseun, better known as Classic Baggie, has now been exposed as the alleged ringleader of a sophisticated international fraud syndicate. Court documents from the United States District Court in Delaware reveal Oluwaseun’s central role in orchestrating a cybercrime network that ran from Lagos to Florida, exploiting business and romantic relationships for financial gain.

While his American-based accomplice, Olugbenga Lawal, has been sentenced to over a decade in federal prison for his role in laundering proceeds from internet fraud, Oluwaseun has largely escaped public scrutiny—until now. Lawal, who received a 10-year and one-month sentence and was ordered to pay $1.46 million in restitution, had operated as a key conduit between fraud victims in the U.S. and the elusive Nigerian figurehead.

Operating under the guise of legitimate business, Lawal used shell companies like Luxe Logistics LLC to funnel illicit funds from victims of Business Email Compromise (BEC) and romance scams. These crimes, involving fake business transactions and deceptive online relationships, were engineered by the so-called "Miami Crew," which was allegedly headed by Classic Baggie. Other members named in the indictment include U.S.-based Rita Assane and Dwight Baines, and Ivorian national Michael Hermann—all of whom used similarly fraudulent business entities to launder stolen money.

Victims were manipulated into sending payments to spoofed bank accounts, often under the pretense of changes in company payment policies due to COVID-19. In one instance, a business labeled “Company A” lost over $450,000. Another, “Company B,” was defrauded of nearly $101,000.

Despite the gravity of the case, Oluwaseun remains unprosecuted. Unlike Lawal, who was arrested and tried on U.S. soil, Classic Baggie resides in Lagos, beyond the immediate reach of American law enforcement. This geographic buffer has delayed further legal proceedings, though the U.S. government has options including extradition—provided Nigeria cooperates under a longstanding treaty that dates back to the colonial era.

Historically, Nigeria has extradited several high-profile fraud suspects to the United States, including cases as recent as 2023. Yet, extradition processes are often drawn out and politically sensitive. Without his physical presence in a U.S. court, Classic Baggie cannot be tried, as the Sixth Amendment guarantees all criminal defendants the right to confront witnesses and participate in their trial.

Once a visible figure on social media, Classic Baggie has since gone dark. His Instagram account, @classicbaggie, is now inactive, and the once-associated “Baggieexchangegroup” now posts unrelated content. Before the fraud revelations, he was widely portrayed as a successful businessman with ventures in real estate, luxury cars, and entertainment, all under the umbrella of Baggie Groups.

Classic Baggie’s public persona was further burnished by his philanthropic gestures and social circle, which included Ramon Abbas—better known as Hushpuppi—who is now serving an 11-year sentence in the U.S. for similar internet fraud.

Despite mounting evidence and a sealed indictment, U.S. authorities have provided no updates on whether extradition proceedings are in motion. For now, the man who once enjoyed celebrity status in Nigeria continues to evade justice, leaving behind a trail of financial devastation and unanswered legal questions.