Two 'Chairmen' of Ghana Romance Scam Conspiracy Plead Guilty in New York: More Than $100 Million Stolen From U.S. Victims
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on October 29 that two "chairmen" of a Ghana-based international criminal organization have pleaded guilty in federal court in New York. The organization stole and laundered more than $100 million from dozens of victims across the United States through romance scams and business email compromises, and many of its victims were vulnerable older men and women tricked into believing they were in online romantic relationships.
Isaac Oduro Boateng, 37, also known as "Kofi Boat," pleaded guilty on October 29, and Inusah Ahmed, 41, also known as "Pascal," pleaded guilty on October 27, 2026. Both men, of Ghana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Sentencing dates have not been announced, and any sentence will be determined by the judge.
According to the indictment and public court filings, members of the conspiracy used fake identities to build online romantic relationships with victims. Once they had gained a victim's trust, they deceived the victim into sending money to the enterprise or into helping launder funds stolen from other victims. The conspirators also used business email compromise schemes to induce businesses to wire funds to the enterprise. In total, the conspiracy stole and laundered more than $100 million, and the proceeds were then laundered to West Africa. Boateng and Ahmed were both "chairmen" of the conspiracy who helped manage and supervise its activity.
Boateng is being held responsible for approximately $12.5 million in victim loss and agreed to make restitution and pay forfeiture, both in the amount of $12,529,213.98. Ahmed is being held responsible for approximately $28.5 million in victim loss and agreed to restitution and forfeiture of $28,574,002 each. Judge Subramanian previously sentenced codefendant Derrick Van Yeboah, also known as "Van," to 85 months in prison. Codefendant Patrick Kwame Asare, also known as "Borgar," remains at large.
"These guilty pleas demonstrate that geographic borders will not shield those who exploit Americans from facing justice in our courts," said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. "Isaac Oduro Boateng and Inusah Ahmed helped supervise an international criminal organization that preyed on vulnerable Americans, exploiting their search for companionship and turning their trust into a means of stealing millions."
Boateng and Ahmed were extradited from Ghana on August 7, 2025. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with Ghana's Attorney General's Office, the Ghana Police Service and other agencies, with the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs among those securing the extraditions. The case is being handled by the Office's Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead and Mitzi Steiner are in charge of the prosecution.
Prosecutors note that romance scammers typically insist on communicating only online, never meet in person, and ask for money for emergencies, investments or help moving funds. Anyone asked to send money to, or move money for, a person they have never met should stop and check with family members or their bank first.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国司法部罗伯特·肯尼迪大楼。APK 摄，CC BY 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons 自托管。 / The Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. Photo by APK, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, self-hosted.
