A Ghanaian national extradited to the United States has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in a decade-long romance and inheritance scheme that defrauded victims in the US of approximately $4.4 million.
Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, popularly known as “Dada Joe Remix,” entered a guilty plea before a federal court in Tucson, Arizona.
Boateng was indicted in the District of Arizona on May 30, 2025, over his alleged involvement in the fraud scheme, which authorities say operated for about a decade.
According to the US Department of Justice, Boateng and his co-conspirators targeted individuals through online dating platforms, text messages and other electronic communications, falsely presenting themselves as potential romantic partners. Many of those affected were older adults.
Investigators said the group also falsely claimed to have inherited gold and precious jewels, telling victims that taxes, customs duties and other administrative fees had to be paid before the assets could be released. Those misrepresentations persuaded victims to send money, resulting in losses of about $4.4 million.
Boateng was arrested in Ghana on May 28, 2025, following a US extradition request. He was later extradited to the United States, where he has remained in custody throughout the proceedings.
As part of his plea agreement, Boateng admitted his role in the conspiracy and agreed to pay approximately $4.4 million in restitution to compensate victims for their losses.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8, 2026, before United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Phoenix Division’s Sierra Vista office, while prosecutors from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona are handling the case.
US authorities credited several Ghanaian and American agencies for their cooperation in the extradition process, including the FBI Legal Attaché in Accra, Ghana’s Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Police Service’s INTERPOL unit, and the US Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
