Three infamous Nigerian Internet fraudsters, Bidemi Rufai, Ray ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas, and Jacob Olalekan Ponle (Mr Woodberry), are currently serving their sentences at Fort Dix low-security prison in New Jersey, USA. They are noted for their significant social media presence and political connections.
Bidemi Rufai, 46, a close associate of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, was apprehended in May 2021 at John F. Kennedy airport. He was charged with using stolen identities to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief funds amounting to $500,000. Rufai pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, receiving a five-year prison sentence. He is scheduled for release on Valentine’s Day in 2025 and has been moved to Fort Dix from a facility in Washington.
Jacob Olalekan Ponle, known as Mr Woodberry, 33, was transferred from Danbury correctional center to Fort Dix. He was sentenced to eight years and three months in jail for fraud in July 2023 and is expected to be deported after his release on October 17, 2027.
Ray ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas, 41, known for flaunting his extravagant lifestyle on social media, was moved from a facility near Los Angeles to Fort Dix. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2022 for his involvement in Internet scams, with a scheduled release date of August 6, 2029.
Despite their high-profile arrests and convictions, it remains uncertain whether U.S. prison authorities were aware of their connections from Nigeria and Dubai. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons did not comment on the situation when approached for clarification.