Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng admitted running a decade-long online fraud scheme from Ghana before his extradition to the United States.
Ghanaian national Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, popularly known as “Dada Joe Remix,” has pleaded guilty in a United States federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, admitting his role in a decade-long online romance scam that defrauded elderly Americans of approximately $4.4 million.
According to US prosecutors, Boateng and his co-conspirators carried out the scheme between 2013 and March 2023, targeting victims across the United States, with a significant number of cases reported in Arizona.
Investigators said the fraud ring created fake identities on online dating platforms, posing as romantic partners to gain victims’ trust. Once relationships were established, the group allegedly persuaded victims to send large sums of money by claiming they needed funds to release inherited gold, jewelry, and other valuable assets supposedly being held overseas, citing fabricated taxes, customs charges, and release fees.
Boateng was arrested in Ghana in May 2025 following a US extradition request and was transferred to the United States the following month. He has remained in federal custody since his extradition.
As part of his guilty plea, Boateng agreed to pay approximately $4.4 million in restitution to the victims. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8, 2026, before US District Judge Angela M. Martinez.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with support from Ghana’s Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), INTERPOL, and Ghanaian judicial authorities.
The case highlights the growing international effort to combat online romance scams, which continue to target vulnerable individuals worldwide through sophisticated social engineering and financial fraud schemes.
