Ghanaian extradited to US admits role in $4.4m romance fraud, agrees to pay restitution

A Ghanaian national extradited to the United States has pleaded guilty to participating in a multi-million-dollar romance and inheritance fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims across the United States, marking a major breakthrough in a decade-long international fraud investigation.

Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, popularly known as "Dada Joe Remix," admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and has agreed to pay approximately $4.4 million in restitution to compensate victims for their financial losses, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona.

The guilty plea follows his extradition from Ghana in 2025 after extensive cooperation between Ghanaian and American law enforcement agencies.

According to U.S. prosecutors, Boateng and his co-conspirators orchestrated an elaborate online fraud operation between 2013 and March 2023, targeting vulnerable elderly individuals in Arizona and several other states.

Investigators said members of the criminal network created fake identities on online dating platforms and social media, where they built romantic relationships with unsuspecting victims over extended periods.

After gaining their victims' trust, the fraudsters allegedly convinced them that they had inherited valuable assets, including large quantities of gold, precious jewels and other valuables.

Victims were then falsely informed that taxes, customs duties, legal fees and shipping charges had to be paid before the supposed inheritance could be released.

Believing the stories to be genuine, many victims transferred substantial sums of money to bank accounts controlled by the fraud syndicate.

Authorities say the operation generated millions of dollars through these fraudulent representations.

Boateng was arrested in Ghana on May 27, 2025, following an extradition request by the United States.

He was extradited to the U.S. the following month and has remained in federal custody since his arrival.

The extradition formed part of growing collaboration between Ghanaian and American authorities in combating transnational organised crime, particularly cyber-enabled financial fraud.

As part of his plea agreement, Boateng accepted responsibility for his role in the conspiracy and agreed to pay approximately $4.4 million in restitution to victims.

The restitution represents the financial losses suffered by individuals who were deceived by the romance and inheritance scam over the ten-year period.

His guilty plea may also result in a reduced sentence compared to the penalties that could have followed a conviction after trial, although sentencing remains at the discretion of the court.

Boateng is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8, 2026, before United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez.

He faces sentencing under U.S. federal laws governing wire fraud conspiracy, with the court expected to consider the scale of the fraud, the financial losses suffered by victims and the terms of his plea agreement.

The U.S. Attorney's Office praised the close cooperation between American and Ghanaian authorities that led to Boateng's arrest and extradition.

Agencies credited for assisting in the investigation include:

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Legal Attaché Office in Accra
• Ghana's Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice
• The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO)
• The Ghana Police Service INTERPOL Unit
• The U.S. Department of Justice Office of International Affairs

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Phoenix Division, through its Sierra Vista office, while prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona in Tucson are handling the case.

Authorities say the successful extradition and guilty plea underscore increasing international efforts to combat cybercrime, romance scams and cross-border financial fraud that continue to target vulnerable individuals worldwide.