Woodberry pleads not guilty to fraud charges



Olalekan Ponle has pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cummings of the United States District Court in Illinois.

Popularly addressed as Woodberry, Ponle is facing charges bordering on wire fraud conspiracy after he was arrested in the United Arab Emirate on June 10 and extradited to the U. S. on July 2.

He was accused of tricking U.S. companies into sending wire transfers worth millions of dollars. 

Companies based in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New York and California were victims of the fraud, 
prosecutors say.

Although the complaint against Mr Ponle has been dismissed, the grand jury indictment which summed his offences into eight counts charge is still active.

On Saturday, the defendant appeared in court. He acknowledged the receipt of the indictment and entered a plea of not guilty to each count.

However, the status hearing, when to know if the case is set for trial, has been slated for August 8.

Mr Ponle is remanded in the custody of the United States Marshals Service and will remain in custody unless the court orders otherwise.

If convicted of the crime, he may spend the next 20 years in prison.

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