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Zeqblog Blog of Friday, 8 August 2025
Source: Okine Isaac
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York and FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia of the New York Field Office announced today the unsealing of an indictment against four Ghanaian nationals—Isaac Oduro Boateng (aka “Kofi Boat”), Inusah Ahmed (aka “Pascal”), Derrick Van Yeboah (aka “Van”), and Patrick Kwame Asare (aka “Borgar”)—for their involvement in an international fraud scheme. The group allegedly stole over $100 million through romance scams and business email compromises.
Boateng, Ahmed, and Van Yeboah were extradited from Ghana and arrived in the U.S. on August 7, 2025. They are set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger, while Asare remains at large. The case will be overseen by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian.
U.S. Attorney Clayton stated that the defendants orchestrated a large-scale fraud operation targeting vulnerable individuals and businesses, emphasizing that law enforcement will pursue online scammers globally. FBI Assistant Director Raia added that the defendants exploited elderly victims through fake relationships and deceived businesses via email scams, vowing to hold such criminals accountable.
According to the indictment, the defendants were key figures in a Ghana-based criminal network that defrauded U.S. victims. Many victims were older adults manipulated into fake romantic relationships, leading them to send money or assist in laundering stolen funds. The group also tricked businesses into wiring money, ultimately laundering over $100 million to West Africa, where high-ranking members, including Boateng and Ahmed, directed the scheme.
The defendants each face charges including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and receipt of stolen money, with maximum prison terms ranging from 5 to 20 years per count. Sentencing will be determined by a judge.
Clayton commended the FBI and thanked Ghanaian authorities and the DOJ’s Office of International Affairs for their cooperation. The case is prosecuted by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead and Mitzi Steiner.
The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
https://x.com/FBI/status/1953909397471605127
