Case against Hushpuppi’s co-defendant, Mr Woodberry dismissed in US court

Recall that Hushpuppi and Mr Woodberry, whose real name is Olalekan Ponle, were arrested in Dubai on 10 June following allegations of wire fraud.

Woodberry was accused of tricking companies into sending him money up to the tune of $15 million. Prosecutors in his case further disclosed that companies based in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New York and California were also involved in the fraud.

Following his arrest in Dubai on 10 June, he was extradited to the U.S. on 2 July where he was subsequently made to face the court of law.

Now, a judge has dismissed the case against him. Although Woodberry was indicted by a grand jury on eight counts of wire fraud, the United States Government through its attorney John R. Lausch filed a case on Monday, 20 July, requesting that the case be dismissed without prejudice.

Lausch said that the request was made in line with Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 48, which states that the government may, with leave of court, dismiss an indictment, information, or complaint.

The dismissal is not permanent, however, as the prosecutor can refile the case within a certain period of time. Cases are dismissed for a host of reasons including unavailability of sufficient evidence, an improper criminal complaint or charging document, to loss of evidence necessary to prove the defendant committed the crime.