Celebrity Gist
Grand Jury Indicts Woodberry Of Fraud, Faces 20 Years in Prison

Olalekan Ponle, a Nigerian held in the United States for alleged multi-million-dollar fraud, has been indicted by the grand jury, a group of lawyers empowered to conduct legal proceedings and investigate potential criminal conduct.
Mr. Ponle, popularly known as Woodberry, alongside Ramoni Abbas, also known as Hushpuppi, was arrested in the United Arab Emirates on June 10 for multiple fraud charges after a raid by operatives of the Dubai crime unit.
According to the complaint, an unnamed Chicago company was defrauded into sending wire transfers totalling $15.2 million.
Read Also:Hushpuppi Got Married To A St. Kitts Woman In October 2018 – Prime Minister Reveals
Companies based in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New York and California also were victims of the fraud, prosecutors say.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) nabbed Mr Ponle through details accessed from his WhatsApp, iPhone and Bitcoin transactions. He was extradited to the United States on July 2.
The 29-year-old is currently facing charges bordering on wire fraud Conspiracy at a United States District Court sitting in Illinois.
His first appearance in court was on July 3, after which the preliminary hearing was set for July 16 before Judge Jeffrey T Gilbert.
Although Mr Ponle appeared in court for his detention and preliminary hearing on Thursday, PREMIUM TIMES is yet to access the outcome of the proceedings as of the time of filing this report.
Read Also : Hushpuppi: Woodberry defrauded US firm of $15.3m stashed away in Bitcoin wallet — FBI
Grand Jury’s report
As obtained by this paper, a report of the special grand jury constituted in 2019, which was submitted to the court on Wednesday, indicted Mr Ponle.
In the American judicial system, the grand jury listens to the prosecutor and witnesses, and then votes in secret on whether they believe that enough evidence exists to charge the person with a crime.
When a person is indicted, he is given a formal notice that it is believed that he committed a crime. The indictment contains the basic information that informs the person of the charges against him.
The jury summed up the allegations against Mr Ponle to an eight-count charge of wire fraud, which violates section 1343 of the United States Codes.
“Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretences, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.”
More so, the jury, in its conclusion, stated that, upon conviction, Mr Ponle shall forfeit to the United States of America any property which institutes and is derived from proceeds traceable to the offense provided in Title 18. United States Code, Section 981 (IXC) and Title 28, United States Code, Section 24611).
“If any of the property described above, as a result of any act or omission by a defendant: cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence; has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party; has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the Court; has been substantially diminished in value; or has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided without difficulty, the United States of America shall be entitled to forfeiture of substitute property, as provided in Title 21, United States Code, Section 853 (p), ” the report further read.
Previous reports had indicated that Mr Ponle will be in the custody of the U.S. Marshal until further order by the Court.
Celebrity Gist
Nina Ivy Reveals Her Son’s Face (Photos)

Ex Reality Tv star Nina Ivy has revealed her son Denzel in new pictures on her Instagram page, Ekomiamiblog reports.
The 24-year-old on Thursday officially introduced Denzel to her Instagram followers.
The post reads:
“To my son, I loved you from the very start, You stole my breath, embraced my heart, I remember the first day I held you in my arms I felt a love so unreal,” Nina wrote.
“Loving you is a wonderful way to spend a lifetime, thank you for choosing me to be your mummy , you are my definition of perfect.”
In another post Nina said, “My little mr sonshine @denzelkely.”
Celebrity Gist
Alaafin attempted to kidnap me, Queen Anu confirms breakup

Queen Anu, one of the wives of the Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has confirmed that she has walked out of her marriage in order to be “free” from “bondage.”
Anu, however, noted that she is being threatened and constantly harassed by the monarch for making the decision.
See her post below:




Celebrity Gist
Oba Elegushi celebrates wife Olori Sekinat on her birthday

Lagos monarch, the King of Ikate Elegushi Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi (Kusenla III), on Tuesday 10th November took to social media to gush over his wife, Olori Sekinat on her birthday.
Oba Elegushi without mincing words praised and appreciated his wife for being a wonderful wife and mother.


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