Olalekan Jacob Ponle, a Nigerian national residing in the UAE, has received an eight-year and four-month prison sentence in the US for his involvement in an elaborate $8 million cybercrime scheme. Ponle, also known as Mark Kain and Mr Woodbery, participated in a business email compromise (BEC) operation that spanned nine months in 2019.
Using phishing attacks, he and his accomplices gained unauthorized access to email accounts and proceeded to send deceptive emails instructing victims to transfer money to accounts they controlled.
Arrested in the UAE in June 2020, Ponle was later extradited to the United States and pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges earlier this year. In addition to his prison sentence, he is required to pay restitution of over $8 million to the victims and relinquish luxury cars and watches purchased with the proceeds of the cybercrime operation.
The US Justice Department revealed that Ponle and his associates attempted to acquire more than $51 million from targeted organizations, resulting in actual losses exceeding $8 million.
This sentencing sends a stern message to cybercriminals operating across international borders that their illegal activities will be met with severe consequences. Earlier this year, another Nigerian national, Solomon Ekunke Okpe, received a four-year prison sentence in the US for his involvement in a separate BEC operation, indicating the growing concern over cybercrime conducted by individuals from Nigeria and similar regions.
Law enforcement agencies remain committed to combating cyber threats and protecting businesses and individuals from the financial devastation caused by sophisticated cybercrime schemes.
