Two Ghanaian nationals, Isaac Oduro Boateng, popularly known as Kofi Boat, and Inusah Ahmed, also known as Pascal, have pleaded guilty to their alleged roles in an international criminal organisation that defrauded victims of more than US$100 million through romance scams and Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced the development in a press release dated Thursday, October 29, 2026.
According to the statement, issued by United States Attorney Jamie McDonald, Kofi Boat and Pascal played leading roles in the criminal organisation, which prosecutors said stole money from victims through various online fraud schemes.
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Kofi Boat entered his guilty plea on Thursday, October 29, while Pascal pleaded guilty on October 27, 2026. Both men admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before US District Judge Arun Subramanian.
The two Ghanaians were described by prosecutors as “chairmen” of the criminal organisation, with the investigation revealing how the network allegedly targeted unsuspecting individuals and businesses, particularly in the United States.
As part of their guilty pleas, Kofi Boat agreed to pay US$12,529,213.98 in restitution to victims, while Pascal agreed to pay US$28,574,002.
The combined restitution amount stands at US$41,103,215.98, representing more than US$41 million in losses attributed specifically to the two defendants.
Both men also agreed to forfeit the same respective amounts as part of the plea agreements.
The US Department of Justice explained that the criminal organisation operated through romance scams and Business Email Compromise schemes.
In the romance scams, members allegedly created fake online identities and established romantic relationships with unsuspecting victims through the internet. After gaining their trust, they persuaded the victims to send money under various false pretences.
The Business Email Compromise scheme, on the other hand, involved allegedly compromising or impersonating legitimate business email accounts to deceive companies and individuals into transferring money into bank accounts controlled by members of the criminal network.
The proceeds from these fraudulent activities were subsequently laundered, with the organisation allegedly operating across international borders.
The latest development comes more than a year after Kofi Boat, Pascal and another Ghanaian, Derrick Van Yeboah, were arrested in Ghana during an operation involving Ghanaian law enforcement authorities and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The arrests took place on June 13, 2025, following investigations into the alleged US$100 million fraud operation.
The three men were subsequently extradited to the United States and arrived there on August 7, 2025, to face charges over their alleged involvement in the criminal organisation.
Another Ghanaian, Patrick Kwame Asare, popularly known as Borgar, was also named in the case. However, according to the US authorities, he remains at large.
Meanwhile, Derrick Van Yeboah, another accused member of the organisation, previously pleaded guilty to his involvement in the fraud scheme. He was sentenced to 85 months in prison on July 28, 2026, after admitting to his role in romance scams that defrauded victims of millions of dollars.
Although the guilty pleas mark a major development in the prosecution of the alleged fraud network, Kofi Boat and Pascal are yet to be sentenced.
The two men each face a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Their actual sentences will be determined by the court.
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