Alleged cybercrime
criminal, Olalekan Ponle, popularly known as Woodberry, has hired the services
of a top-rated Chicago lawyer, Michael Nash, to defend him in court.
Topflyers Magazine reports
that Woodberry was arrested alongside Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Ray Hushpuppi in the United Arab Emirate on
June 10 for multiple fraud charges after a raid by operatives of the Dubai
crime unit.
The Dubai Police authorities had released a video of
how Hushpuppi and Olalekan Jacob Ponle were arrested for fraud. The Dubai based Nigerian big boys
were arrested for an alleged $35
million by Interpol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The duo were then extradited to the United States on
July 2.
Two
weeks after their arrest, Dubai Police confirmed the arrest of the Dubai based
Nigerian internet fraudster. The Dubai Media Office said two Nigerians and 10
others were arrested in an operation tagged “Fox Hunt 2”. The Dubai Police said the raid resulted in the
seizure of incriminating documents pertaining to a well-planned international
fraud worth Dh1.6 billion
(N168,823,414,720.00).
Hushpuppi
and his gang of fraudsters were accused of leading an “international” online
fraud network that was committing crimes outside the UAE, including
money-laundering, cyber fraud, hacking, criminal impersonating, scamming
individuals, banking fraud and identity theft.
Mr Ponle, 29, who is currently
facing charges bordering on wire fraud Conspiracy at a US District Court
sitting in Illinois, made his first appearance in court on July 3, after which
the preliminary hearing was set for July 16 before Judge Jeffrey T Gilbert. However,
as provided by a section of the U.S. laws on the release or detention of a
defendant pending trial, Mr Ponle will be remanded in the custody of the U.S. Marshal until further order
of the Court.
According
to court documents, Micheal Nash, whose area of specialisation is Criminal
Defense, signed the Attorney Appearance Form for Mr Ponle on July 8.
The Chicago based lawyer will on
Thursday try to secure bail for Woodberry. Mr
Ponle is facing 20 to 30 years if found guilty for cyber fraud.
Topflyers Magazine recalls that Hushpuppi had also hired Gal Pissetzky, a top
criminal attorney in Chicago.
According
to court documents, Hushpuppi retained the Senior Partner at Chicago law
firm Pissetzky & Berliner,
Pissetzky, to defend him in the fraud charges levelled against him.
Pissetzky
was called to the bar in 2002 and has practised law in Chicago since then.
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