U.S. Government Transfers Hushpuppy, Woodberry And Rufai To Same Prison Ahead of Valentine’s Day Release
New Jersey, July 9, 2024
In a stunning development, three infamous Nigerian Internet fraudsters—Ray ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas, Jacob Olalekan Ponle (also known as Mr. Woodberry), and Bidemi Rufai—are now serving their sentences together at Fort Dix low-security prison near Joint Base McGuire Burlington County, New Jersey. The trio, with strong social media and political influence, has been languishing in U.S. prisons for several years.
Bidemi Rufai’s Upcoming Release
Bidemi Rufai, a close ally of Governor Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), is set to be released on Valentine’s Day in 2025. Rufai was arrested in May 2021 at John F. Kennedy airport while attempting to flee the U.S. to Nigeria. His crimes involved stealing the identities of thousands of U.S. citizens to claim COVID-19 benefits totaling half a million dollars. He used the stolen funds to finance an extravagant lifestyle, including luxury cars and watches. Rufai pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, resulting in a five-year prison sentence. He is expected to pay $604,000 in restitution to victims, including government institutions.
Mr. Woodberry’s Transfer
Mr. Woodberry, 33, is another member of this notorious trio. He was moved from the notorious Danbury correctional center in Connecticut to Fort Dix. His prison registration number is 54314-424. Woodberry is scheduled for release on October 17, 2027, after which he will be deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In July 2023, Judge Robert Gettleman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago convicted and sentenced Woodberry to eight years and three months in jail for fraud. Woodberry, once a socialite with over a million followers on Instagram, was arrested alongside Hushpuppi in June 2020 at a Dubai apartment. Prosecutors recommend that he forfeit his diamond-studded necklace, rings, and all gold jewelry.
Hushpuppi’s Fate
The final member of the triad, Hushpuppi, 41, has also been transferred to Fort Dix. His prison number is 54313-424. Known for flaunting his luxurious lifestyle on social media, Hushpuppi was arrested in June 2020 in Dubai and extradited to the U.S. to face Internet scam charges. In 2022, United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II sentenced him to 11 years in prison. Hushpuppi is expected to serve the rest of his sentence until August 6, 2029.
It remains unclear whether U.S. prison officials were aware of the Nigerian trio’s alliance from their activities in Nigeria and Dubai. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons has not responded to requests for comments.
