Two Men Plead Guilty in Massive Wire Fraud Scheme

Isaac Oduro Boateng and Inusah Ahmed admit to roles in a global network that stole over $100 million from victims.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Financial Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of an imposing stone archway, evoking the institutional weight of the federal legal system. — Isaac Oduro Boateng and Inusah Ahmed have pleaded guilty in New York to a $100 million international wire fraud conspiracy. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Isaac Oduro Boateng and Inusah Ahmed, also known as Kofi Boat and Pascal, have pleaded guilty in the Southern District of New York to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The pair operated a criminal network that targeted older adults and companies through romance scams and business email compromise schemes.

Why it matters

The case highlights the growing scale of international fraud operations that leverage digital deception to steal significant assets from vulnerable populations and businesses. The defendants' guilty pleas follow their extradition from Ghana to the United States to face federal charges.

The defendants agreed to pay over $41 million in combined restitution and forfeiture, with individual amounts set at $12,529,213.98 and $28,574,002. They each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while their associate Derrick Van Yeboah has already received an 85-month sentence.

The players

Isaac Oduro Boateng

Also known as Kofi Boat, he is one of the primary defendants who pleaded guilty to his role in the wire fraud network.

Inusah Ahmed

Also known as Pascal, he is a co-defendant who admitted to his involvement in the operation and faces potential prison time.

Derrick Van Yeboah

He was previously sentenced to 85 months in prison for his role in the same criminal enterprise.

Judge Subramanian

He is the presiding judge in the Southern District of New York responsible for determining the final sentences for the defendants.

Patrick Kwame Asare

He is a central figure in the criminal network who currently remains at large and is being sought by authorities.

The details

Members of the network used fake identities to pose as romantic partners online to build trust before requesting funds. The group also utilized business email compromise schemes to trick organizations into wiring payments into fraudulent accounts.

August 7, 2025: The defendants were extradited from Ghana to the United States.
October 27, 2026: Pascal pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
October 29, 2026: Kofi Boat pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Legal Context

This case follows the precedent set by the 2025 extradition of fraud suspects from Ghana to face prosecution in the United States. It highlights the increasingly international nature of financial crimes and the challenges of managing multi-jurisdictional investigations.

The case highlights the importance of verifying identities and financial requests made by individuals met only through online platforms. Older adults and businesses are encouraged to maintain robust security protocols to avoid becoming targets of email compromise or romance fraud.

The takeaway

Financial fraud rings often rely on the exploitation of trust to move large sums of money across international borders. Consumers should be wary of any online relationship or business contact that deviates from established communication channels or demands wire transfers.