Olalekan Jacob Ponle, also known as Woodberry has pleaded ‘guilty’ to the eight-count fraud charge against him for engaging in a scheme known as business email compromise (BEC) to the U.S. authorities.
Gatekeepers News reports that Woodberry, who was arrested alongside his close friend Hushpuppi in Dubai, had at first pleaded not guilty .
However, a plea declaration submitted at the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division on April 6 revealed Mr. Woodberry had had a rethink and is now pleading guilty to count one of the indictments.
He agreed to surrender $8 million in proceeds of wire fraud.
“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 Mr Ponle’s signed plea declaration.
Mr. Ponle was also asked to waive his rights to the luxury cars, and designer watches he had stashed in Dubai.
The items include; a Rolls Royce Cullinan with vehicle no J9153, Lamborghini Urus (N4973), Mercedes-Benz G-class (G68816), four Rolex watches, one Patek Philippe watch, three Audemars Piguet watches, three gold and diamond-studded earrings, and six gold neck chains.
Last year, Ponle had forfeited 151.8 Bitcoin, roughly $6 million, to the American government, determined to recover all stolen monies from the Nigerian fraudster.
Mr. Ponle was arrested in Dubai on June 10, 2020, alongside Ramon Hushpuppi Abbas, currently serving an 11-year sentence for a similar fraud charge.
