Ghanaian faces sentencing after guilty plea in $4.4 million romance fraud
A Ghanaian national, Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, popularly known as “Dada Joe Remix,” has pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a multi-million-dollar romance and inheritance scam that targeted elderly victims across the United States.
Boateng entered his guilty plea before a federal court in Tucson, Arizona, after being extradited from Ghana in June 2025. He had been arrested in Ghana on May 27, 2025, following the issuance of a U.S. extradition warrant and has remained in custody since his arrest.
According to court documents, Boateng admitted that he and his co-conspirators operated an elaborate fraud scheme between 2013 and March 2023. The group allegedly preyed on elderly individuals in Arizona and other parts of the United States by creating fake online identities on dating platforms and through electronic communications.
The conspirators reportedly cultivated romantic relationships with victims before deceiving them into believing they had inherited valuable assets, including gold and precious jewels. Victims were then persuaded to send money under the false pretense that taxes, shipping costs, and other fees were required before the supposed inheritance could be released.
As part of his plea agreement, Boateng accepted responsibility for his role in the scheme and agreed to pay approximately **US$4.4 million** in restitution, representing the losses directly linked to his criminal conduct.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on **September 8, 2026**, by United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Phoenix Division’s Sierra Vista office, while the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is prosecuting the case.
Authorities acknowledged the cooperation of several Ghanaian and U.S. institutions in securing Boateng’s extradition. They include the FBI Legal Attaché in Accra, Ghana’s Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Police Service’s INTERPOL unit, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
The case highlights continued international collaboration between Ghanaian and U.S. law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational cybercrime and online financial fraud targeting vulnerable victims.
Author: Joyce Owusu
Source: United States Attorney’s Office
District of Arizona
