Two Ghanaian nationals have admitted their involvement in an international criminal network accused of defrauding individuals and businesses across the United States of more than US$100 million through romance scams and business email compromise schemes.
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that Isaac Oduro Boateng, popularly known as “Kofi Boat,” pleaded guilty on October 29, 2026, while his accomplice, Inusah Ahmed, also known as “Pascal,” entered his guilty plea on October 27, 2026.
Both men admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud before US District Judge Arun Subramanian.
Commenting on the development, US Attorney Jamie McDonald said the guilty pleas demonstrate that individuals involved in fraud against Americans cannot escape prosecution by operating across international borders.
He indicated that Boateng and Ahmed played supervisory roles in an international criminal organisation that targeted vulnerable Americans, exploiting their desire for romantic relationships and using the trust they developed to defraud them of millions of dollars.
According to McDonald, the organisation, together with its associates, carried out an extensive fraud operation that resulted in losses exceeding US$100 million among victims across the country.
Court documents and the indictment revealed that the two Ghanaian nationals were members of a criminal network operating mainly from Ghana, which targeted American individuals and businesses through online romance fraud and business email compromise schemes.
Investigations showed that several victims, particularly older men and women, were deceived into believing they were engaging in genuine romantic relationships with individuals they had encountered online. However, the identities and romantic profiles were allegedly fabricated and controlled by members of the criminal organisation.
After establishing trust with their victims, members of the group reportedly convinced them to transfer money to accounts controlled by the organisation or assist in laundering funds obtained from other victims.
Beyond romance scams, the criminal network also allegedly targeted businesses through email compromise fraud. The suspects manipulated companies into transferring funds into bank accounts controlled by the organisation.
Authorities estimated that the network stole and laundered more than US$100 million from dozens of victims, with the proceeds eventually transferred to West Africa.
Court filings identified Boateng and Ahmed as senior figures, described as “chairmen”, who were involved in overseeing and coordinating the organisation’s operations.
Boateng has been linked to approximately US$12.5 million in financial losses suffered by victims, while Ahmed is being held responsible for losses estimated at US$28.5 million.
Boateng, 37, and Ahmed, 41, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, an offence that attracts a maximum prison sentence of 20 years under US law.
As part of their guilty pleas, Boateng agreed to pay US$12,529,213.98 in restitution and forfeiture, while Ahmed accepted responsibility for US$28,574,002 in restitution and forfeiture.
Although the offence carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, the actual punishment will be determined by the presiding judge based on the circumstances of the case and applicable sentencing guidelines.
The development follows the earlier sentencing of another member of the criminal network, Derrick Van Yeboah, also known as “Van”, who received an 85-month prison sentence.
Meanwhile, a fourth accused person, Patrick Kwame Asare, who goes by the alias “Borgar”, remains at large.
US authorities acknowledged the contributions of several law enforcement and government institutions in both Ghana and the United States towards investigating the criminal network and facilitating the extradition of Boateng and Ahmed on August 7, 2025.
The Ghanaian institutions involved included the Office of the Attorney General and its International Cooperation Unit, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Ghana Police Service, Cyber Security Authority, Ghana Immigration Service, National Intelligence Bureau and Financial Intelligence Centre.
Other agencies that supported the investigation included the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s Sensitive Investigation Unit, US Customs and Border Protection, the US Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the US Department of State and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra.
The prosecution is being handled by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit of the US Attorney’s Office, with Assistant US Attorneys Kevin Mead and Mitzi Steiner leading the case.
Source: adomonline