Kofi Boat
THE FEDERAL Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has confirmed the indictment of four Ghanaians for allegedly masterminding a sophisticated criminal enterprise that defrauded vulnerable Americans and businesses of more than $100 million.
The accused, Isaac Oduro Boateng, 36, alias ‘Kofi Boat’; Inusah Ahmed, 40, aka ‘Pascal’; Derrick Van Yeboah, 40, alias ‘Van’; and Patrick Kwame Asare, 39, alias ‘Borgar’ are said to have orchestrated a web of romance scams and business email compromises, targeting victims across the United States (US), including the Southern District of New York.
According to the unsealed indictment, the scheme preyed on lonely, often elderly individuals, who were deceived into believing they were in romantic relationships with fictitious personas created by the defendants.
“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,” he said.
Raia added that “the FBI will continue to ensure anyone who preys on companies and vulnerable Americans online is made to face the criminal justice system.”
The indictment further detailed how the group expanded their operations to include business email compromises, a tactic where they impersonated company employees or associates to divert funds.
By creating email accounts with slight variations of legitimate addresses, they tricked businesses into wiring large sums to accounts under their control.
The conspirators involved forged authorisation letters and fake signatures to lend credibility to their requests. The stolen funds were laundered through a network of middlemen in the US, who operated shell companies purportedly involved in automobile sales, food imports, and freight shipping.
These middlemen took a cut before funneling the remainder to West Africa, where the profits were distributed to high-ranking members of the organisation, including Boateng and Ahmed, who held the title of ‘chairmen.’
The long arm of the law finally caught up with the group after a collaborative effort between US and Ghanaian authorities. Boateng, Ahmed, and Van Yeboah were extradited to the US on August 7, 2025, and appeared before a magistrate judge the following day. Asare remains at large.
The defendants face multiple charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and receipt of stolen money, with maximum sentences ranging from five to 20 years per count.
Authorities have also moved to seize assets linked to the illicit gains, vowing to recover every possible dollar for the victims.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, praised the outstanding work of the FBI. He also thanked Ghana and the US 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 Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Police Service – Interpol, Cyber Security Authority, and 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 US 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.