BY GRACE ZIGAH
Two Ghanaians accused of supervising an international criminal network that allegedly stole and laundered more than US$100 million from victims across the United States have pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud conspiracy charges, exposing the scale of a sophisticated operation built around romance scams and business email fraud.
The defendants, identified as 37-year-old Isaac Oduro Boateng, popularly known as “Kofi Boat”, and 41-year-old Inusah Ahmed, alias “Pascal”, admitted their roles before a US federal court after investigators traced the activities of the criminal organisation, which prosecutors say operated primarily from Ghana.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Boateng entered his guilty plea on October 30, 2026, while Ahmed pleaded guilty on October 27, 2026.
Both men pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, an offence carrying a maximum possible prison sentence of 20 years.
The investigation centres on an international operation accused of targeting dozens of individuals and businesses across the United States, using deceptive online relationships and fraudulent business communications to obtain millions of dollars before transferring and laundering the proceeds.
Court documents indicate that the organisation relied on two major methods of financial deception: romance scams and business email compromise.
In the romance fraud operations, members allegedly created fictitious identities and approached unsuspecting individuals through online dating platforms and social media.
The perpetrators reportedly built relationships with their targets, presenting themselves as genuine romantic partners before exploiting the trust they had established to solicit money.
Many of the victims were reportedly older Americans who believed they were communicating with individuals interested in genuine relationships.
After gaining their confidence, the fraudsters allegedly invented circumstances requiring financial assistance and persuaded victims to transfer funds to accounts controlled by members of the organisation.
Some victims were also allegedly manipulated into helping move money obtained from other targets, turning unsuspecting individuals into intermediaries in the laundering process.
The organisation simultaneously operated business email compromise schemes, targeting companies through deceptive electronic communications.
Under this method, criminals allegedly impersonated trusted business contacts or manipulated email communications to persuade organisations to transfer money into fraudulent accounts.
Investigators said the proceeds from these activities were subsequently moved through financial channels and transferred to West Africa as part of efforts to conceal their origins.
The scale of the operation was substantial, with prosecutors estimating that more than US$100 million was stolen and laundered from dozens of victims across the United States.
Boateng and Ahmed Face More Than US$41m in Restitution and Forfeiture
The two Ghanaian defendants were described in the court filings as chairmen of the criminal organisation, with supervisory and managerial responsibilities in its operations.
Their respective roles have also translated into significant financial obligations under their guilty pleas. Boateng has been held responsible for approximately US$12.5 million in victim losses, while Ahmed’s alleged responsibility amounts to approximately US$28.5 million.
As part of his plea agreement, Boateng agreed to pay US$12,529,213.98 in restitution to victims and an additional US$12,529,213.98 in forfeiture.
Ahmed, meanwhile, agreed to pay US$28,574,002 in restitution and an equivalent amount in forfeiture. Combined, the two men have agreed to restitution payments totalling US$41,103,215.98, alongside an equal amount in forfeiture.
Another Ghanaian Accomplice Already Serving 85 Months
The proceedings have also resulted in the conviction and sentencing of another Ghanaian national linked to the organisation. Derrick Van Yeboah, also known as “Van”, was previously sentenced to 85 months in prison by US District Judge Arun Subramanian for his involvement in the conspiracy.
However, prosecutors say another alleged accomplice, Patrick Kwame Asare, popularly known as “Borgar”, remains at large.
The continued search for Asare suggests that the investigation has not yet accounted for every individual allegedly connected to the criminal network.
US Prosecutors Warn That International Borders Will Not Protect Fraudsters
US Attorney Jamie McDonald described the guilty pleas as evidence of the government’s commitment to pursuing individuals involved in international fraud operations, regardless of where they are based.
“These guilty pleas demonstrate that geographic borders will not shield those who exploit Americans from facing justice in our courts,” McDonald said.He accused Boateng and Ahmed of helping supervise an organisation that exploited vulnerable Americans by taking advantage of their desire for companionship and turning personal trust into an avenue for financial exploitation.
“Isaac Oduro Boateng and Inusah Ahmed helped supervise an international criminal organisation that preyed on vulnerable Americans, exploiting their search for companionship and turning their trust into a means of stealing millions. Together with their coconspirators, they orchestrated a massive fraud that stole more than $100 million from victims across the country,” he added.
