Johnny Somali Denies Deepfake Charges, Faces Up to 36 Years in Prison
Streamer Johnny Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, has officially entered a not guilty plea regarding charges of distributing Deepfakes during his second court appearance.
In 2024, Somali made headlines after traveling to South Korea, where he stirred up controversy similar to his previous antics in Japan and Israel. His online broadcasts featured him engaging in disruptive behavior, disrespecting local customs, and even performing inappropriate dances at the Statue of Peace, a memorial dedicated to the victims of sexual slavery during World War II.
These actions led to his arrest and subsequent charges. During his initial court appearance, he arrived late and appeared to be hungover. He pled guilty to obstruction of business for causing chaos at a 7-Eleven and faced two counts under the minor crimes act for harassing individuals with a dead fish and twerking on the subway.
On May 16, Ismael returned to court for a second time, facing additional charges of Obstruction of Business and allegations of creating Deepfakes, a serious offense that could result in a maximum penalty of 10.5 years in prison for each count. Despite his previous tardiness, Somali reportedly showed up late again, prompting his lawyer to search for him within the courthouse before he took the stand.
According to YouTuber Legal Mindset, Somali is facing two counts of distributing Deepfakes, which he has contested by pleading not guilty. However, his legal representation was unable to present any evidence supporting his claims of innocence, a point Somali disputes.
In addition to the Deepfake charges, he also pled guilty to playing loud music on a bus, which caused delays, and creating a disturbance at the popular theme park Lotte World, as reported by Korean media. Somali maintains that he is not guilty of both the Deepfake allegations and the third count of Obstruction of Business.
The Obstruction of Business charges carry a maximum penalty of five years each, and with three counts against him, Somali could face up to 15 years in prison for those alone. Each Deepfake charge, on the other hand, could add another 10.5 years, bringing the total potential sentence to a staggering 36 years.
Update: It appears Ramsey has stated he intended to plea NOT GUILTY on the new obstruction charge, but a GUILTY plea was entered for this new charge by his lawyer (whether accidently or not) and this has now been confirmed by Korean Media as of this post. I have updated my chart… https://t.co/xfjgsQZ23D pic.twitter.com/1MGqGnQ4v0
— Legal Mindset (@TheLegalMindset) May 16, 2025
In a twist, Somali has recently been unbanned from a streaming platform, which has faced accusations of concealing evidence related to his case. His next trial date is set for August 13, 2025, and it promises to be a full day of testimony.
However, this may not be the end of Somali's legal troubles. He is also accused of making threats to spread HIV, broadcasting North Korean propaganda, and violating anti-terrorism laws, which could lead to further complications in his ongoing legal saga.
