- Safiu Kehinde
The United States have secured the extradition of three Ghanaian nationals over alleged role in an international criminal organization that stole more than $100 million from victims via romance scams and business email compromises.
This was announced in a statement issued on Friday by the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton.
The US Attorney and the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Christopher G. Raia, had announced the unsealing of an indictment charging the four Ghanaian nationals identified as Isaac Boateng (aka Kofi Boat), Inusah Ahmed (aka Pascal), and Derrick Van Yeboah (Van) on alleged wired fraud conspiracy.
While Boateng, Ahmed and Van Yeboah, were arraigned on Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger, Asare remains at large.
FBI Director in Charge, Christopher Raia, narrated to the court how the defendants had alleged scammed several companies using email compromise campaigns and tricking innocent elderly victims through fraudulent companionship.
“The defendants have been brought to the United States to be held accountable for their alleged roles in scamming companies and vulnerable Americans out of over $100 million,
“Deceiving businesses using email compromise campaigns and tricking innocent elderly victims through fraudulent companionship in order to exploit their trust and finances is not merely appalling but illegal.
“The FBI will continue to ensure anyone who preys on companies and vulnerable Americans online is made to face the criminal justice system.” Gaia said.
As further disclosed in the indictment against the suspects, many of their victims were allegedly 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.
Coupled with their alleged business email compromises, the total amount allegedly stolen and laundered by the suspected internet fraudsters was estimated to be over $100 million from dozens of victims.
The fraud proceeds, according to the statement, were 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.
If found guilty, the suspects risk maximum sentence of 20 years in prison with one count of wire fraud carrying a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison while the other count of money laundering conspiracy 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.
They also risk additional jail term as one count of receipt of stolen money carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.