U.S. Moves Woodberry, Hushpuppi And Rufai To Same Prison, Sparks Reactions

The U.S. government has relocated three well-known Nigerian internet fraudsters, Ray ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas, Jacob Olalekan Ponle (Mr. Woodberry), and Mr. Rufai to Fort Dix prison in New Jersey. Bidemi Rufai, known for his political ties and luxurious lifestyle funded by fraud, is slated for release on Valentine’s Day, 2025.Hushpuppi, Mr. Woodberry, and Mr. Rufai are now all at the low-security facility near Joint Base McGuire. Their crimes, ranging from identity theft to wire fraud, have kept them under tight surveillance. Rufai, notably linked to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, was apprehended in May 2021 with plans to escape to Nigeria. His arrest at JFK Airport was the culmination of an FBI investigation that revealed his scheme to pilfer COVID-19 relief funds by stealing the identities of U.S. citizens.Rufai’s fraudulent activities funded an extravagant lifestyle including luxury cars and watches, leading to his conviction on charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, with a sentence of five years and an order to repay over $600,000 to various U.S. institutions. Now, with a prison number of 83912-053, he’s been transferred from Seattle to Fort Dix, anticipating his release.His associate, Mr. Woodberry, was moved from Connecticut’s Danbury correctional center to Fort Dix. Woodberry, who flaunted his opulent life to over a million followers on his now-deactivated Instagram, faces an October 2027 release and subsequent deportation.Hushpuppi, the third member of this infamous trio, was relocated from a Los Angeles facility to Fort Dix. Arrested in Dubai in June 2020 and later extradited, Hushpuppi was sentenced in 2022 to 11 years for his role in various internet scams, including flaunting his ill-gotten wealth on social media.The trio’s reunion in Fort Dix raises questions about the Bureau of Prisons’ awareness of their prior connections in Nigeria and Dubai. Despite this, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons has yet to comment on the matter.