Two Ghanaian nationals have pleaded guilty in a United States federal court for their roles in a massive international fraud network that defrauded victims of over $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise schemes.
Isaac Oduro Boateng, 37, also known as “Kofi Boat,” and Inusah Ahmed, 41, popularly known as “Pascal,” admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in the Southern District of New York.
Court filings revealed that both men acted as leaders within the Ghana-based syndicate, which targeted vulnerable individuals and corporate entities across the United States. The perpetrators created fake online personas to lure elderly victims into romantic relationships before tricking them into transferring funds or laundering illicit proceeds. The criminal enterprise also manipulated businesses into executing fraudulent wire transfers, subsequently routing the stolen funds to West Africa.
Boateng pleaded guilty on Friday and agreed to pay $12,529,213.98 in restitution and forfeiture for his role in the scheme. Ahmed, who admitted guilt on October 27, agreed to restitution and forfeiture totaling $28,574,002. Both men face a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald noted that geographical boundaries would not protect individuals who target and exploit American citizens, highlighting that the defendants turned the trust of vulnerable individuals into a enterprise for stealing millions.
The pair were extradited to the United States on August 7, 2025, following a joint operation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation and several Ghanaian security and intelligence agencies, including the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service, the Cyber Security Authority, and the Financial Intelligence Centre.
The court previously sentenced a co-defendant, Derrick Van Yeboah, to 85 months in prison, while another accused accomplice, Patrick Kwame Asare, remains at large.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana