Amanze ChinonyeThree Ghanaian nationals have been extradited to the United States to face charges for their alleged roles in an international criminal network that defrauded individuals and businesses of more than $100 million through romance scams and business email compromises.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and FBI New York Field Office Assistant Director in Charge, Christopher G. Raia, announced the unsealing of an indictment against Isaac Oduro Boateng (a.k.a. “Kofi Boat”), Inusah Ahmed (a.k.a. “Pascal”), Derrick Van Yeboah (a.k.a. “Van”), and Patrick Kwame Asare (a.k.a. “Borgar”).
Join our WhatsApp ChannelBoateng, Ahmed, and Van Yeboah arrived in the U.S. on Thursday following their extradition from Ghana and are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. Asare remains at large.
According to prosecutors, the four were high-ranking members of a Ghana-based syndicate that targeted vulnerable older Americans in elaborate romance scams, tricking victims into sending money or laundering funds stolen from others. The group also allegedly engaged in business email compromise schemes, deceiving companies into wiring funds to accounts controlled by the network.
Prosecutors say the stolen funds were laundered to West Africa, often to “chairmen” leaders within the network who directed the activities of other members. Boateng and Ahmed were allegedly among these leaders.
“This massive conspiracy defrauded vulnerable people and stole from businesses,” Clayton said, warning that offshore scammers would be pursued globally. Raia described the schemes as “appalling” and stressed the FBI’s commitment to prosecuting those who prey on trust and exploit victims online.
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Each defendant faces multiple charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and receipt of stolen money. The charges carry maximum sentences ranging from five to 20 years in prison per count, though actual sentences will be determined by the court.
The extradition was secured with the assistance of Ghana’s Office of the Attorney-General, Economic and Organized Crime Office, Police Service – INTERPOL, Cyber Security Authority, and National Intelligence Bureau, alongside the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
Cybercrime experts say the case highlights a broader crackdown on West African fraud rings, which have increasingly turned to online romance scams and corporate email breaches to target victims across borders. U.S. prosecutors hope the successful extradition will deter similar networks by showing that international boundaries offer no safe haven from prosecution.
The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead and Mitzi Steiner leading the prosecution.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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