Woodberry
Report reveals that U.S. court has dismissed the case against Olalekan Ponle AKA Woodberry who was recently accused of multi-million dollar wire fraud.
Woodberry was arrested alongside Hushpuppi in Dubai on June 10 for multiple fraud charges after a raid by Dubai police. However, they where taken to the U.S. on July 2. Apparently, Woodberry had been accused of defrauding a Chicago company of $15.2 million. It is said that companies based in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New York and California were victims of the fraud as well. Report from Premium Times says that Woodberry, 29, was facing charges bordering on wire fraud conspiracy at a United States District Court in Illinois; and the allegations were summed up to an eight-count charge of wire fund, which violates section 1343 of the United States Codes.
Despite the allegations, the United States government on Monday filed a motion through its attorney, John R. Lausch, requesting that the case against woodberry be dismissed without prejudice. According to reports, probable causes of dismissal range from unavailability of sufficient evidence, an improper criminal complaint or charging document, to loss of evidence necessary to prove the defendant committed the crime. Though woodberry’s case has been dismissed, it could be a temporary dismmisal as prosecutor can refile the case within a certain period. “Counsel for the government has spoken with counsel for the defendant and defendant’s counsel has no objection to this motion. Respectfully submitted,” Attorney Lausch said.
Attorney Lausch said it is in pursuant with Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 48, which states that the government may, with leave of court, dismiss an indictment, information, or complaint. Meanwhile, Judge Robert W. Gettleman issued a court order on Tuesday, that the government’s motion to dismiss complaint without prejudice was granted. “Without objection the complaint against defendant Ponle is dismissed without prejudice. Motion presentment hearing set for 7/23/2020 is stricken,” Mr Gettleman ruled. When a case is dismissed with prejudice, it is over and done with, once and for all, and can’t be brought back to court. However, when it is dismissed without prejudice, like in the case of Mr Ponle, the dismissal is temporary as the prosecutor can refile the case within a certain period of time.
