Two Ghanaian-Americans Arrested Over $7 Million Global Fraud Scheme

Two Ghanaian-American citizens are currently in police custody in the United States for their involvement in a wire fraud scheme that reportedly garnered them about US$7 million over a span of three years.

The main suspect, Kelvin Nkwantabisa, aged 31 and based in Atlanta, is currently held by U.S. Marshals in Broward County.

He faces six federal charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Nkwantabisa, also known as “Kevin Brown” and “KO,” remains detained in the Broward Main Jail as of Friday.

The other suspect, Justice Amoh, also known as “Samuel Andrews,” hails from The Bronx, New York, and is being prosecuted in the Southern District of Florida.

Their co-conspirators include John Jouissance from Canal Winchester, Ohio, and Leshea Moore, also known as “Deborah Green,” from Acworth, Georgia.

According to reports, Amoh and Nkwantabisa completed their education in Ghana before relocating to the United States, where the alleged crimes took place.

The federal indictment suggests that the co-conspirators gained access to victims’ business email accounts to monitor and intercept emails discussing wire transfer payments.

By impersonating legitimate business partners, they sent false and fraudulent requests for payment and wire instructions to induce victims to transfer money into controlled bank accounts.

The indictment lists five unidentified victims, including a corporation in Coral Springs, a company in Suffolk, England, and an investor in Auckland, New Zealand. These entities collectively wired over $7 million to bank accounts controlled by the suspects and their accomplices.

The group allegedly opened shell companies and bank accounts in the names of these shell companies to receive stolen funds. The fraudulent activities reportedly commenced as early as August 2022 and continued until March of the current year.

Nkwantabisa appeared in Fort Lauderdale federal court on Thursday and is scheduled for an arraignment and detention hearing next Thursday. Amoh and Jouissance were also apprehended this week in New York and Ohio, respectively. Moore, however, remains at large.

If convicted, all suspects face significant prison sentences.