Four Ghanaian nationals have been indicted in the United States for running a sprawling international fraud network that allegedly stole more than $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise schemes, US officials announced Thursday.
The accused, Isaac Oduro Boateng (also known as “Kofi Boat”), Inusah Ahmed (“Pascal”), Derrick Van Yeboah (“Van”), and Patrick Kwame Asare (“Borgar”) are said to have led a sophisticated operation targeting both vulnerable individuals and businesses across the US.
Boateng, Ahmed, and Yeboah were extradited from Ghana and arrived in New York on August 7, where they appeared before Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. Asare remains at large.
US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, denounced the crimes, saying:
“Offshore scammers should know that we, the FBI, and our law enforcement partners will work around the world to combat online fraud and bring perpetrators to justice.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia added: “Deceiving businesses through email compromise campaigns and exploiting elderly victims through sham romantic relationships is not only appalling it’s criminal. We will pursue anyone who targets companies and vulnerable Americans online.”
According to the indictment, the defendants operated from Ghana, luring older adults into fake online relationships to extract money or enlist them in laundering illicit funds. The group also compromised business email accounts to trick companies into wiring millions to their network.
Authorities say the proceeds were funneled back to West Africa under the direction of criminal “chairmen,” with Boateng and Ahmed identified as key leaders.
The defendants aged between 36 and 40 face multiple charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and receipt of stolen money. Each count carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The US Department of Justice credited Ghana’s Economic and Organized Crime Office, INTERPOL, Cyber Security Authority, and National Intelligence Bureau for their cooperation in securing the extraditions.
The case is being prosecuted by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit of the US Attorney’s Office, with Assistant US Attorneys Kevin Mead and Mitzi Steiner leading the effort.
