Kofi Boat Vrs. FBI: All Details Of Romance Scam Charges Against ‘The Enterprise’
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Justice have announced the extradition of three Ghanaians—Isaac Oduro Boateng (alias Kofi Boat), Insuah Ahmed (alias Pascal), and Derrick Van Yeboah (alias Van)—who are accused of being key figures in a major scam organization known as ‘The Enterprise’.
According to a joint statement from the FBI and the Department of Justice, these three individuals, along with a fourth suspect still at large, Patrick Kwame Asare (alias Borgar), were “high-ranking members of a criminal organization based in Ghana that committed romance scams and business email compromises against individuals and businesses located across the U.S.” They are accused of stealing and laundering more than $100 million from their victims.
Criminal Charges Against The Four Men
Details from the indictment document shared by the Attorney General’s Office for the Southern District of New York provide insight into the specific charges against the four men. They have been charged with the following:
- One count of wire fraud conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
- One count of wire fraud, also with a maximum sentence of 20 years.
- One count of money laundering conspiracy, with a maximum sentence of 20 years.
- One count of conspiracy to receive stolen money, which has a maximum sentence of 5 years.
- One count of receipt of stolen money, with a maximum sentence of 10 years.
If convicted and given the maximum sentence for each charge, the men could face up to 75 years in a U.S. prison. However, the presiding judge will ultimately determine the length of the sentences for each crime. The Attorney General’s Office emphasized that these are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Details of the Investigation and Extradition
The Attorney General’s Office disclosed that the successful arrest and extradition of the suspects were the result of a collaborative effort between several U.S. and Ghanaian institutions. The U.S. agencies that played key roles include the FBI, which was praised for its “outstanding work,” and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
Ghanaian agencies were also instrumental in the process, including the International Cooperation Unit of the Office of the Attorney-General, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service—INTERPOL, Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority, and the National Intelligence Bureau.
Inside The Enterprise’s Operations
The indictment, filed in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, outlines the alleged operations of the group from 2016 to May 2023. The document states that Kofi Boat, Pascal, Van, Borgar, and their co-conspirators “willfully and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and with each other” to commit crimes including money laundering, wire fraud, and receiving stolen money.
The document also includes specific messages that allegedly show how the conspirators shared stolen money. For example:
- On June 4, 2020, Patrick Kwame Asare (Borgar) allegedly messaged a co-conspirator that $187,000 in romance scam proceeds were being transferred for laundering.
- On June 16, 2020, Isaac Oduro Boateng (Kofi Boat) allegedly messaged the same co-conspirator about transferring $200,000 in romance scam proceeds for laundering.
- On August 28, 2020, Inusah Ahmed (Pascal) allegedly messaged a different co-conspirator about transferring $300,000, which was ultimately received in a bank account in the Southern District of New York.
- On September 3, 2020, Derrick Van Yeboah (Van) is accused of inducing a romance scam victim to transfer $18,500 to a third co-conspirator for laundering.
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After the money was stolen from victims in the U.S., the proceeds were “laundered to West Africa, where they were largely funnelled to individuals called ‘chairmen,’ who directed the activities of other members of the conspiracy.” The document identifies Kofi Boat and Pascal as two of these alleged chairmen.
The news of the extraditions has generated significant discussion among young Ghanaians, with many questioning the value of such actions. On social media, people are pointing out that these suspects, particularly Kofi Boat, often presented themselves as hardworking and successful youth. Their lavish lifestyles—showcased through expensive clothes, homes, and cars on social media—have been criticized for pressuring other young people, especially those who are less privileged, to seek similar success, sometimes leading them to question their own faith and self-worth.
Kofi boat was is an inspiration to many Ghanaian youth, he use to say hustling hard , grind hard. He said he started with nothing but through determination and hustle, so what happened? a Facebook user posted.
Shatta Wale Likely Involved With Kofi Boat
The extradition of the alleged fraud kingpins has also drawn a link to prominent Ghanaian dancehall artist Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale. Social media users have speculated about a possible connection between Shatta Wale and Kofi Boat, who is reportedly a key financier of the musician’s lifestyle.
The allegations leading to Kofi Boat’s arrest first came to public light after an initial arrest in June 2025. On June 13, 2025, Kofi Boat was arrested by the FBI and INTERPOL alongside two other Ghanaian nationals on allegations of the $100 million romance scam. This incident sparked widespread online speculation about Shatta Wale’s possible involvement.
In response, Shatta Wale released a video firmly rejecting any association with fraudulent activities, insisting that his wealth and success stem solely from his musical career.
I’m a clean boy. You guys are tagging me with fraud because your favourites can’t compare themselves to me. It’s music money. If you don’t know, come and let’s teach you. It’s hard work and dedication, Shatta Wale said.
Kofi Boat claimed that the widely circulated $100 million amount is untrue and has refuted all of the accusations. According to his attorneys, the real sum at issue is around $300,000, which they maintain came from lawful commercial transactions.
According to reports, Kofi Boat allegedly fell ill shortly after his arrest in June and was taken to the Police Hospital in Accra.
Public Reaction
These rumors intensified after the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), in a joint operation with the FBI, seized a Lamborghini from Shatta Wale’s residence. The vehicle was allegedly tied to the proceeds of a separate criminal enterprise led by a Ghanaian man named Nana Kwabena Amuah, who is now serving a seven-year sentence in the U.S. for fraud.
The current extradition of Kofi Boat and the other suspects has captivated the public, who are keenly watching to see if the FBI’s investigation will yield a similar outcome to that of Ghanaian influencer Mona4Real (Mona Faiz Montrage). She was extradited to the U.S., pleaded guilty to receiving stolen money, and was sentenced to a year and a day in prison, as well as ordered to pay restitution and forfeit hundreds of thousands of dollars. The public is now awaiting the outcome of this new case, hoping for a similar measure of justice.
