The United States has extradited three Ghanaian nationals accused of participating in an international fraud ring that allegedly stole more than $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise schemes.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Isaac Oduro Boateng (a.k.a. Kofi Boat), Inusah Ahmed (a.k.a. Pascal), and Derrick Van Yeboah (a.k.a. Van) arrived in the U.S. on August 7, 2025, and are set to appear before Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.
A fourth suspect, Patrick Kwame Asare (a.k.a. Borgar), has also been charged but remains at large.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton alleged that the four were senior members of a Ghana-based criminal network that targeted vulnerable individuals — many of them elderly — by creating fake online romantic identities to gain their trust before defrauding them. The group also carried out sophisticated business email compromise attacks, deceiving companies into transferring large sums of money.
“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,” Clayton said.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia condemned the scheme, describing it as an “appalling” exploitation of trust for financial gain.
Investigators allege the network laundered the stolen funds through West Africa, with leaders known as “chairmen” — including Boateng and Ahmed — overseeing operations.
All four defendants face multiple charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to receive stolen money, and receipt of stolen money. Each charge carries penalties ranging from five to 20 years in prison if convicted.
The extradition was secured through collaboration between U.S. authorities and Ghana’s Office of the Attorney-General, with support from Ghana’s Economic and Organized Crime Office, Police Service – INTERPOL, Cyber Security Authority, and National Intelligence Bureau.
The case is being prosecuted by the Southern District of New York’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead and Mitzi Steiner leading the proceedings.
