UAE-based scammer gets 8 years in US prison after forfeiting 151 bitcoin
UAE-based Nigerian influencer ‘Mr. Woodbery’ has been sentenced to eight years and four months in prison for scamming US businesses out of $8 million, and must now pay back that amount to his victims and give up a fleet of luxury cars and watches, on top of 151 bitcoin ($4.5 million) already forfeited. According to the US Department of Justice (DoJ), 31-year-old Olalekan Jacob Ponle, otherwise known as ‘Mr. Woodbery’ and ‘Mark Kain,’ stole millions while living in the UAE in 2019. The fraudster relied on money mules to convert stolen funds into bitcoin. Ponle bought himself luxury cars with the illicit gains, including a Rolls Royce Cullinan, Lamborghini Urus, and a Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG G55. The Nigerian also had a taste for Rolex and Patek Philippe watches, the DoJ noted. These items have since been confiscated by dripped out authorities. ‘Mr. Woodbery’ was part of a scamming group that tricked employees into interacting with ph...