A popular socialite on Instagram who exhibits his wealth, Olalekan Jacob Ponle, commonly referred to as Woodberry, pleads guilty to the cybercrime charges against him, forfeiting assets in Dubai and $8m.
Woodberry was arrested by the Dubai Police in June 2020 along with his partner-in-crime, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, who is better known as Hushpuppi, for their involvement in an international cybercrime syndicate.
Woodberry was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. He was known for his flamboyant lifestyle, which he flaunted on social media. He had a large following on Instagram, where he posted pictures of himself living the high life, driving luxury cars, and wearing designer clothes and accessories.
Woodberry's involvement in cybercrime began with email scams, where he would send phishing emails to unsuspecting victims in the United States and other countries. He would then use the information he obtained to steal their identities and siphon off their money.
Woodberry's criminal activities came to an end when the Dubai Police, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), caught up with him and his partner, Hushpuppi, in a raid on their luxury apartment. The two were accused of defrauding over 1.9 million people to the tune of $435.6 million.
After their arrest, Woodberry and Hushpuppi were extradited to the United States, where they faced charges of money laundering, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and engaging in a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme. If found guilty, they could face up to 20 years in prison.
Woodberry's case highlights the growing problem of cybercrime and the need for stronger measures to tackle it. While some view Woodberry as a victim of circumstance, others see him as a criminal who deserves to face the full wrath of the law.