Following the extradition of Ghanaian businessman Isaac Oduro Boateng, often known as Kofi Boat, for his alleged role in a $100 million romance scam, new reports disclose the likely length of his prison sentence.
On August 7, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Department of Justice announced the extradition of three Ghanaians: Kofi Boateng (Kofi Boat), Insuah Ahmed (Pascal), and Derrick Van Yeboah (Van), who are accused of masterminding a prominent scam syndicate.
According to documents shared online and released by Jay Clayton, the Attorney General’s Office for the Southern District of New York has charged the business mogul with five distinct offences, including conspiring to commit wire fraud, money laundering, receiving stolen funds, and two additional related charges.
According to the newspaper, the 36-year-old, along with the other two accused, may face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
The document reads:
One count of wire fraud conspiracy has a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison, as does one act of wire fraud.
One count of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of receiving stolen money carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
Jay Clayton also stressed that the final decision will be made by the presiding court, stating, “The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.”
Background
In June 2025, the FBI revealed that it had been examining Kofi Boat’s business operations, which led to the decision to extradite him on charges of a $100 million romantic hoax, money laundering, and other crimes.
According to the FBI, the accused allegedly scammed victims throughout the United States, including the Southern District of New York, between 2016 and May 2023.
