Two Ghanaians, Isaac Oduro Boateng, alias Kofi Boat, and Inusah Ahmed, alias Pascal, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with an international fraud scheme that caused more than US$100 million in losses to victims.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced that Ahmed entered his guilty plea on October 27, 2026, while Boateng pleaded guilty on October 29, 2026.
According to the prosecutors, the scheme operated primarily from Ghana and targeted vulnerable, older Americans through online romance scams and business email compromise schemes.
The romance scams involved the use of false identities to deceive victims into sending money, while the business email compromise operations targeted corporate transactions by intercepting payments.
Prosecutors said Boateng and Ahmed served as chairmen within the criminal network, overseeing operations and directing the laundering of proceeds from the schemes to West Africa.
As part of their guilty pleas, Ahmed has accepted responsibility for US$28,574,002 in victim losses, while Boateng has accepted responsibility for US$12,529,213.98.
Both men have agreed to restitution and forfeiture terms relating to their respective roles in the scheme.
The offence carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison. However, their sentences will be determined by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian at a later date.
The case also involves two other alleged members of the network.
Derrick Van Yeboah, also known as Van, was extradited from Ghana alongside Boateng and Ahmed in August 2025. He has since been sentenced to 85 months in prison, equivalent to more than seven years.
Patrick Kwame Asare, known as Borgar, remains at large, according to the information provided by the prosecutors.
