Three Ghanaian nationals have been extradited to the United States to face charges for their alleged roles in a sophisticated international criminal organization that stole over $100 million through romance scams and business email compromises.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI revealed that Isaac Oduro Boateng, 36, Inusah Ahmed, 40, and Derrick Van Yeboah, 40, arrived in the U.S. on August 7, 2025, following their extradition from Ghana.
Patrick Kwame Asare, 39, remains at large.
The extradited suspects are scheduled to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.
According to the FBI, "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, ( at large), have been 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.