Olalekan Ponle,29 aka Woodberry was arrested alongside Hushpuppi in the United Arab Emirates on June 10 for multiple fraud charges after a raid by operatives of the Dubai crime unit. He was caught by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through details accessed from his WhatsApp, iPhone, and Bitcoin transactions. He was extradited to the United States on July 2.
Ponle was alleged to have tricked an unnamed Chicago company into sending wire transfers totaling $15.2 million. Companies based in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New York, and California also were victims of the fraud, prosecutors say.
However, On Monday the United States Government filed a motion through its attorney, John R. Lausch, requesting that the case against Ponle should be dismissed without prejudice.
Lausch said:
“Counsel for the government has spoken with counsel for the defendant and the defendant’s counsel has no objection to this motion. Respectfully submitted,”
In response, a court order issued by Judge Robert W. Gettleman on Tuesday said the government’s motion to dismiss the complaint without prejudice was granted.
Gentleman said:
“Without objection, the complaint against defendant Ponle is dismissed without prejudice. Motion presentment hearing set for 7/23/2020 is stricken,”
