Two Ghanaian nationals have pleaded guilty in the United States to their roles in an international cybercrime syndicate accused of defrauding victims across the country of more than US$100 million through romance scams and business email compromise schemes.
Isaac Oduro Boateng, 37, popularly known as “Kofi Boat”, and Inusah Ahmed, 41, also known as “Pascal”, were described by US prosecutors as “chairmen” of the criminal organisation, which was primarily based in Ghana.
The two entered their guilty pleas before US District Judge Arun Subramanian in the Southern District of New York.
Boateng pleaded guilty on Thursday, October 29, 2026, while Ahmed entered his plea on October 27. Both admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
US Attorney Jamie McDonald said the pleas demonstrated that international borders would not protect individuals involved in crimes targeting American victims.
“These guilty pleas demonstrate that geographic borders will not shield those who exploit Americans from facing justice in our courts,” he said.
He described Boateng and Ahmed as supervisors of an international criminal organisation that exploited people seeking companionship and used their trust to steal millions of dollars.
How the fraud syndicate operated
According to the indictment and public court filings, the organisation targeted individuals and businesses across the United States through romance scams and business email compromise schemes.
In the romance scams, members allegedly created fake identities and used them to establish online relationships with victims, many of whom were vulnerable older men and women.
After gaining their confidence, the fraudsters persuaded victims to transfer money to the syndicate or assist in laundering funds obtained from other victims.
The organisation also targeted businesses through business email compromise schemes, in which perpetrators deceived companies into transferring money to accounts controlled by the criminal network.
The proceeds were subsequently laundered to West Africa.
Boateng and Ahmed linked to millions in losses
Prosecutors said Boateng and Ahmed played supervisory and management roles in the organisation.
Boateng is being held responsible for approximately US$12.5 million in victim losses, while Ahmed is responsible for approximately US$28.5 million.
As part of their guilty pleas, Boateng agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture totalling US$12,529,213.98. Ahmed agreed to pay US$28,574,002 in restitution and forfeiture.
Another member of the syndicate, Derrick Van Yeboah, also known as “Van”, was previously sentenced by Judge Subramanian to 85 months in prison.
Meanwhile, another alleged member, Patrick Kwame Asare, popularly known as “Borgar”, remains at large.
Ghanaian agencies assist US investigation
US Attorney Jamie McDonald acknowledged the support of several Ghanaian and American law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution.
The Ghanaian institutions involved included the Attorney General’s Office and its International Cooperation Unit, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Police Service, the Cyber Security Authority, the Ghana Immigration Service, the National Intelligence Bureau and the Financial Intelligence Centre.
Their US counterparts included the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Sensitive Investigation Unit, US Customs and Border Protection, the US Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the US Department of State and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra.
The cooperation between the agencies helped secure the extradition of Boateng and Ahmed to the United States on August 7, 2025.
The case is being handled by the US Attorney’s Office Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit, with Assistant US Attorneys Kevin Mead and Mitzi Steiner leading the prosecution.
