Entertainment

BREAKING: Hushpuppi’s Ally, Woodberry Pleads Guilty To Fraud, Forfeits $8M, Cars, Watches, Others

Notorious and disgraced Internet fraudster, Olalekan Jacob Ponle, also known as Woodberry, has pleaded guilty to internet fraud.

CityNews Nigeria reports that Woodberry has also agreed to surrender $8 million in proceeds of wire fraud as well as luxury cars and watches to the foreign government.

Woodberry, who loved to flaunt his lavish lifestyle on Instagram, is a friend to disgraced Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abbas, also known as Hushpuppi.

Advertisement

Woodberry had at first pleaded not guilty to the eight-count fraud charge brought against him for engaging in a scheme known as business email compromise (BEC).

However, a plea declaration submitted at the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division on April 6 revealed Woodberry had had a rethink and is now pleading guilty to count one of the indictments.

Advertisement

According to his plea agreement, he was required to repay the $8 million he fraudulently received from the seven companies that fell for his scam.

“Defendant understands that by pleading guilty, he will subject to forfeiture to the United States all right, title, and interest that he has in any property constituting or derived from proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of the offence,” stated the document containing Ponle’s signed plea declaration, Peoples Gazette reports.

Advertisement

U.S authorities also demanded he forfeits all his luxury cars, and designer watches stashed in Dubai.

The automobiles include Rolls Royce Cullinan with vehicle no J9153, Lamborghini Urus (N4973) and Mercedes-Benz G-class (G68816).

Advertisement

Other items seized are four Rolex watches, one Patek Philippe watch, three Audemars Piguet watches, three gold and diamond-studded earrings, and six gold neck chains.

Last year, he had forfeited 151.8 Bitcoin, roughly $6 million, to the American government, determined to recover all stolen monies from the Nigerian fraudster.

Advertisement

Ponle was arrested in Dubai on June 10, 2020, alongside Hushpuppi currently serving an 11-year sentence for a similar fraud charge.

Advertisement
citynews

Recent Posts

BREAKING: Tinubu govt drops treason charges against EndBadGovernance protesters

  The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the treason charges brought against the…

1 hour ago

#USRoadToWhiteHouse2024: Trump-Harris polls remain tied in battleground states…

What to know about the end of the #USElection2024 campaign The most recent polling analysis…

1 hour ago

#USElection2024 Live Updates: Trump Vs Harris…Latest Results…Latest Polls

#US election 2024 Live Updates:  What you need to know about USelection2024 latest polls •…

2 hours ago

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pursue separate projects

A royal commentator suggests that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are taking separate paths in…

4 hours ago

#USElection2024: Trump, Harris close campaign in swing states on eve of deadlocked election

PHILADELPHIA/GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan (Reuters) -Donald Trump and Kamala Harris both predicted victory as they campaigned…

4 hours ago

‘He’s With Us’, EFCC Confirms Ex-Gov Okowa’s Arrest Over N1.3trn Diversion

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Ifeanyi Okowa, the immediate past governor of…

4 hours ago