FBI Places Fresh Fraud Charges Against Woodberry

The  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has placed Olalekan Ponle also Known as Woodberry on a fresh charge of fraud.

Naija News learnt that Micheal Nash, the Chicago lawyer representing Woodberry who confirmed the development revealed that Mr Ponle “has now been charged by indictment, instead of being charged by the complaint by FBI”.

Mr Nash also revealed the reason for the earlier dismissal of the complaints against his client was because the government charged him with a slightly different crime.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Joseph D. Fitzpatrick, who spoke with premium times on behalf of the plaintiff, said although the complaint is dismissed, but the grand jury indictment is still active.

“We dismissed the complaint, but the indictment (charging 8 counts of wire fraud) is still active. We cannot comment on the dismissal of the complaint, but I wanted to make sure you knew the indictment is still active,”

Mr Ponle, nicknamed Woodberry, is facing charges bordering on wire fraud conspiracy at a United States District Court sitting in Illinois, after he was arrested at the United Arab Emirate on June 10.According to the complaint against Mr Ponle, an unnamed Chicago company was tricked into sending wire transfers totalling $15.2 million.

The accused remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal as of the time of reporting.