Two Ghanaian men at the centre of a major US fraud case, Isaac Oduro Boateng, popularly known as “Kofi Boat,” and Inusah Ahmed, known as “Pascal,” have pleaded guilty in a federal court in New York.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Ahmed, 41, entered his plea on October 27, 2026, and Boateng, 37, followed on October 29. Each admitted one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud before US District Judge Arun Subramanian.
What prosecutors say happened
Prosecutors say the two belonged to a criminal network based mainly in Ghana that targeted people and businesses across the United States. Many victims were older men and women who believed they were in online romantic relationships with people who did not exist. Once trust was built, victims were persuaded to send money or to help move funds taken from other victims.
The group also ran business email compromise schemes, using fraudulent emails to trick companies into wiring money. In total, prosecutors say the network stole and laundered more than US$100 million from dozens of victims, with the proceeds moved to West Africa.
Boateng and Ahmed are described in court filings as “chairmen” who helped manage and supervise the operation.
The money involved
Boateng is being held responsible for about US$12.5 million in victim losses and Ahmed for about US$28.5 million. As part of their pleas, Boateng agreed to restitution and forfeiture of US$12,529,213.98 each, and Ahmed to US$28,574,002 each.
What comes next
The offence carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, but the final sentences will be decided by the judge. No sentencing date has been announced.
A co-defendant, Derrick Van Yeboah (“Van”), was earlier sentenced to 85 months in prison. A fourth man named in the indictment, Patrick Kwame Asare (“Borgar”), remains at large.
Boateng, Ahmed and Van Yeboah were extradited from Ghana on August 7, 2025. The US Attorney credited the FBI and several Ghanaian agencies, including the Attorney General’s Office, EOCO, the Ghana Police Service and the Cyber Security Authority, for their cooperation. GhEcho will report on sentencing when it happens.