In a major crackdown on international cybercrime, U.S. authorities have charged four Ghanaian nationals for orchestrating a sophisticated online fraud scheme that stole over $100 million from individuals and businesses across the United States.

The accused — Isaac Oduro Boateng (aka “Kofi Boat”), Inusah Ahmed (aka “Pascal”), Derrick Van Yeboah (aka “Van”), and Patrick Kwame Asare (aka “Borgar”) — allegedly led a Ghana-based criminal organization involved in romance scams and business email compromise (BEC) attacks. The indictment outlines how victims, many of them vulnerable elderly individuals, were manipulated into believing they were in romantic relationships, only to be tricked into sending money. At the same time, businesses were deceived through fake emails into transferring large sums to accounts controlled by the group.

Three of the accused — Boateng, Ahmed, and Van Yeboah — were extradited to the U.S. on August 7, 2025, and appeared before a magistrate judge in New York. Asare remains at large. The fraud proceeds, often laundered through a network of operatives and sent back to West Africa, were largely funneled to figures known as “chairmen,” with Boateng and Ahmed allegedly among the top leaders.

Each of the defendants faces multiple charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and receiving stolen funds, carrying potential sentences of up to 20 years per count.

The case is being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI, with key support from Ghanaian authorities and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs. Prosecutors emphasized the global nature of cybercrime and the importance of international cooperation in holding perpetrators accountable.

As always, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.