• About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Sunday, August 10, 2025
  • Login
  • Cover
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Security
  • Entertainment
  • World
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Interview
No Result
View All Result
Newsdesk Africa
Advertisement
  • Cover
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Security
  • Entertainment
  • World
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Interview
No Result
View All Result
Newsdesk Africa
No Result
View All Result
Home Crime

4 Ghanaians extradited to U.S. ror roles in stealing over $100m through romance scams, other fraud

Hassan Tanko by Hassan Tanko
August 9, 2025
in Crime
0
Police arrest abductors of Bayelsa Judge
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The United States (U.S.) 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, on Friday, August 8, 2025 announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging four Ghanaian nationals for their roles in an international criminal organization that stole more than $100 million from victims via romance scams and business email compromises.

The four Ghanaian nationals include 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.” ASARE remains at large. 

The District Attorney and FBI further announced Ghana’s extradition of BOATENG, AHMED, and VAN YEBOAH, who arrived in the U.S. on August 7, 2025. They have already been presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger while the case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian. 

The full statement reads: “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,” for their roles in 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:[1] 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.

“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.”

Previous Post

62% pass English, Maths as WAEC releases reviewed results

Next Post

9mobile transforms to T2, signals new era in Nigeria’s communication industry

Next Post
9mobile transforms to T2, signals new era in Nigeria’s communication industry

9mobile transforms to T2, signals new era in Nigeria’s communication industry

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

https://youtu.be/FHyJ1Wr0FAk?si=0WVYI_2OR4OrIrQ4
https://youtu.be/gbE3azm_Io0?si=GdE3Mqelo1ujTNla
Carbon emissions and ICT sustainable development
Business

NCC rolls out governance  guidelines for telecom coys

by Ada Okafor
August 10, 2025
0

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has rolled out governance guidelines for the telecom companies, to ensure strict compliance with regulatory...

Read moreDetails
NCC PHOTO NEWS

NCC PHOTO NEWS

August 10, 2025
NCC directs banks to deduct USSD charges from airtime

NCC rolls out governance  guidelines for telecom coys

August 10, 2025
ICIR opens applications for SPARK reporting fellowship

ICIR opens applications for SPARK reporting fellowship

August 10, 2025
Lagos is a Land of Law, Not Tribal Lords: A rebuttal to the so-called Yoruba Elders Progressive Council (YEPC)

Lagos is a Land of Law, Not Tribal Lords: A rebuttal to the so-called Yoruba Elders Progressive Council (YEPC)

August 9, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Copyright© 2022-2025 Newsdesk Africa Published by Glossy Affairs Ltd. Tel: +2348152359152. Email: info@newsdeskafrica.com.ng editor@newsdeskafrica.com.ng

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Homepage

Copyright© 2022-2025 Newsdesk Africa Published by Glossy Affairs Ltd. Tel: +2348152359152. Email: info@newsdeskafrica.com.ng editor@newsdeskafrica.com.ng