$100 Million Dollar Romance Scammers from Ghana Extradited to the United States

Ghanaian Nationals Extradited For Roles In Criminal Organization That Stole More Than $100 Million Through Romance Scams And Other Fraud

Primary Category: News // Law Enforcement

Author:
•  SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

Four Ghanaian nationals have been charged in New York for their alleged roles in a criminal organization that stole more than $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise schemes targeting U.S. victims. Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah were extradited from Ghana and presented before a U.S. magistrate judge on August 7, 2025. Patrick Kwame Asare remains at large. Prosecutors allege the group posed as romantic partners to deceive vulnerable older Americans into sending money or laundering funds, while also executing fraudulent business email transactions to steal from companies. Proceeds were funneled to West Africa, primarily to senior figures known as “chairmen,” including Boateng and Ahmed. The defendants face multiple charges, each carrying significant prison terms if convicted. U.S. and Ghanaian authorities collaborated extensively on the investigation and extraditions. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Note: This article is intended for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. If you are experiencing distress, please consult a qualified mental health professional.

Ghanaian Nationals Extradited For Roles In Criminal Organization That Stole More Than $100 Million Through Romance Scams And Other Fraud

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging four Ghanaian nationals:

• 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,”

They operated the largest scammer group in Ghana. An international criminal organization that stole more than $100 million from victims via romance scams and business email compromises.  They further announced Ghana’s extradition of BOATENG, AHMED, and VAN YEBOAH, who arrived in the U.S. on August 7, 2025, and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.  ASARE remains at large.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian. 

“As alleged, Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, Derrick van Yeboah, and Patrick Kwame Asare led and participated in an international fraud ring that engaged in a massive conspiracy to defraud vulnerable people and steal from businesses,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “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.”

“The defendants have been brought to the United States to be held accountable for their alleged roles in scamming companies and vulnerable Americans out of over $100 million,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia.  “Deceiving businesses using email compromise campaigns and tricking innocent elderly victims through fraudulent companionship in order to exploit their trust and finances is not merely appalling but illegal.  The FBI will continue to ensure anyone who preys on companies and vulnerable Americans online is made to face the criminal justice system.”

As Alleged in the Indictment

BOATENG, AHMED, VAN YEBOAH, and ASARE were high-ranking members of a criminal organization based in Ghana that committed romance scams and business email compromises against individuals and businesses located across the U.S.

Many of the conspiracy’s victims were vulnerable older men and women who were tricked into believing that they were in online romantic relationships with people who were, in fact, fake identities assumed by members of the conspiracy.  Once members of the conspiracy had gained the trust of their victims, they deceived those victims into sending their money to the enterprise or into helping them launder funds from other victims.  The conspirators also committed business email compromises to trick and deceive businesses into wiring funds to the enterprise.  In total, the conspiracy stole and laundered more than $100 million from dozens of victims.

After stealing the money, the fraud proceeds were then laundered to West Africa, where they were largely funneled to individuals called “chairmen,” who directed the activities of other members of the conspiracy.  BOATENG and AHMED were considered chairmen of the organization.

The Criminals

BOATENG, 36; AHMED, 40; VAN YEBOAH, 40; and ASARE, 39, each of Ghana, are charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of money laundering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of receipt of stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. 

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. He also thanked Ghana and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for their assistance. 

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the International Cooperation Unit of the Office of the Attorney-General of Ghana to secure the extraditions to the United States.  Ghana’s Economic and Organized Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service – INTERPOL, Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority, and Ghana’s National Intelligence Bureau all provided significant assistance to ensure the success of these extraditions.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead and Mitzi Steiner are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Article Glossary

• Assistant Director in Charge – Senior FBI official overseeing operations for a specific field office, in this case, the New York Field Office.
• Assistant U.S. Attorneys – Federal prosecutors representing the U.S. government in criminal cases; Kevin Mead and Mitzi Steiner are prosecuting this case.
• Business Email Compromise (BEC) – A type of fraud where criminals hack or spoof business email accounts to trick companies into sending funds to fraudulent accounts.
• Chairmen – High-ranking members of a criminal network who oversee operations and direct lower-level scammers.
• Christopher G. Raia – FBI Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office, who commented on the case.
• Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit – A specialized division within the U.S. Attorney’s Office responsible for prosecuting large-scale fraud and cybercrime cases.
• Conspiracy – A criminal agreement between two or more people to commit fraud or other illegal activities, often involving coordinated planning.
• Cyber Security Authority (Ghana) – Ghana’s government agency responsible for cybersecurity policy, investigations, and enforcement.
• Defendants – Individuals formally charged in a criminal case; in this case, Boateng, Ahmed, Van Yeboah, and Asare.
• Economic and Organized Crime Office (Ghana) – Ghanaian agency focused on investigating and combating organized financial crime.
• Extradition – The legal process of transferring accused criminals from one country to another to face charges; Ghana extradited three of the defendants to the U.S.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – U.S. federal agency responsible for investigating major crimes, including international fraud.
• Fraud Proceeds – Money or assets obtained through illegal activities, often laundered to hide their origin.
• Ghana Police Service – INTERPOL – Ghana’s law enforcement branch working with INTERPOL on cross-border investigations and extraditions.
• Indictment – A formal criminal charge issued by a grand jury, used to prosecute serious federal crimes.
• International Cooperation Unit (Ghana) – Division within Ghana’s Office of the Attorney-General that works with foreign authorities on cases involving extraditions and cross-border crimes.
• Jay Clayton – U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York who announced the charges.
• Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs – U.S. agency that coordinates international extraditions and mutual legal assistance in cross-border cases.
• Laundered Funds – Illegally obtained money moved through different accounts or businesses to conceal its criminal origins.
• Magistrate Judge – A federal judge who handles initial court proceedings, such as arraignments and bail hearings; Robert W. Lehrburger is overseeing this stage.
• Money Laundering – The process of disguising the origin of illegally obtained money, often moving it through foreign accounts and networks.
• National Intelligence Bureau (Ghana) – Ghanaian agency providing intelligence support for national security and criminal investigations.
• Office of the Attorney-General of Ghana – Ghana’s top legal authority involved in approving and coordinating the extradition process.
• Online Romance Scam – A scam in which criminals create fake online personas to manipulate victims into sending money under the guise of a romantic relationship.
• Perpetrators – Individuals who commit crimes, in this case, those leading or participating in the fraud conspiracy.
• Presumption of Innocence – Legal principle that defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in court.
• Prosecution – The process of presenting a criminal case in court against defendants; in this case handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
• Robert W. Lehrburger – U.S. Magistrate Judge presiding over the initial proceedings.
• Romance Scams – Fraud schemes involving emotional manipulation to trick victims into sending money, often exploiting loneliness and trust.
• Sentencing – The punishment assigned to a convicted defendant, determined by the judge based on federal guidelines.
• Southern District of New York (SDNY) – Federal jurisdiction where the case is being prosecuted.
• Stolen Money Conspiracy – Criminal coordination to receive, conceal, or distribute stolen funds.
• S. District Judge Arun Subramanian – Judge assigned to oversee the full trial proceedings.
• S. Magistrate Judge – Federal judicial officer handling preliminary matters before trial, such as bail and procedural issues.
• United States Attorney’s Office – Federal prosecutors handling criminal cases on behalf of the U.S. government.
• Vulnerable Victims – Individuals, often elderly, targeted by scammers due to loneliness, trust, or financial insecurity.
• Wire Fraud – A federal crime involving schemes to defraud people or businesses using electronic communications, such as email or online platforms.
• Wire Fraud Conspiracy – An agreement between multiple parties to commit wire fraud, often involving coordinated planning and deception.

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