Jacob Olalekan Ponle, also known as Woodberry, has been sentenced to 8 years and 3 months in prison by the United States of America.
Woodberry, according to sources, will be deported to Nigeria after his involvement in a multimillion-dollar swindle.
Woodberry, an associate of imprisoned online fraud kingpin Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, pleaded guilty to one count brought against him in court, while the remaining seven counts were dismissed in April following a plea agreement.
Following his conviction, he agreed to hand over $8 million in wire fraud gains, as well as his luxury automobiles and watches, to the US government.
Woodberry was sentenced on July 11 by Justice Robert Gettleman of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago, according to the Peoples Gazette.
“The defendant is hereby committed to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to be imprisoned for a total term of 100 months as to count,” Mr Gettleman said in a court filing.
Woodberry was ordered by the court to surrender to the US Marshals Service for transfer to the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut.
It has been reported that he will be granted visitation rights by his family members, particularly his American fiancée.
The judge also stated that Woodberry would be “surrendered to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for deportation immediately following his incarceration.”
The internet fraudster will be ordered to pay $8 million in compensation to seven victims, and his 152 bitcoins will be sold following a public notice of 30 days for anyone with an interest in the assets to register claims.
Woodberry was known for his extravagant lifestyle, taking to social media to flaunt his fortunes obtained through illegal operations.
Property in Dubai police possession, such as a Rolls Royce, Lamborghini Urus, Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG G55, four Rolex watches, one Patek Philippe watch, and three Audemars Piguet watches, are among the assets he forfeits.
Three gold and diamond-studded rings, five gold bracelets and two gold bracelet keys, six gold neck chains, one gold and diamond-studded necklace, one small gold nugget, two bank cards, roughly $1,835 in Emirati dirhams, and approximately $15.45 in South African rands are among the other items.
On June 10, 2020, Woodberry was arrested in Dubai alongside Hushpuppi, who is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence in the United States for fraud.