AfriPulse
A federal court in Florida has sentenced 33-year-old Ghanaian-American Kelvin Owusu Nkwantabisa to 17 years in prison for masterminding a $38 million Business Email Compromise (BEC) fraud scheme that targeted companies and individuals across the world.
According to U.S. prosecutors, Nkwantabisa, who operated under the aliases “Kevin Brown” and “KO,” led the American arm of an international cybercrime network. The group gained unauthorized access to victims’ email accounts, monitored ongoing business transactions and impersonated trusted contacts to divert payments into accounts under their control.
Investigators revealed that the syndicate used a network of bank accounts and shell companies to conceal stolen funds and make it difficult for authorities to trace the money.
Court records showed that Nkwantabisa played a key leadership role in the operation.
Prosecutors said he coordinated activities with accomplices based overseas, opened bank accounts in multiple states, monitored fraudulent transfers and directed others on how to launder the proceeds.
His involvement and leadership position resulted in the heaviest sentence among those convicted in the case.
Three of his co-conspirators also received prison terms for their roles in the fraud scheme.
Leshea Moore, 29, from Georgia, was sentenced to 11 years in prison after helping to establish shell companies, open fraudulent bank accounts and move stolen money through the financial system.
In Ohio, 33-year-old John Jouissance received a four-year prison sentence for creating shell companies and managing accounts used to receive illicit funds.
Another accomplice, Justice Amoh, also known as “Samuel Andrews,” was sentenced to three years in prison.
The 37-year-old, based in New York, opened bank accounts using false identities and processed fraudulent transactions under Nkwantabisa’s instructions.
Commenting on the case, U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones said the defendants “exploited legitimate business relationships and abused the trust of their victims to steal millions”.
He noted that the sentences should serve as “a strong message” to individuals who use the U.S. financial system to commit fraud and launder criminal proceeds.
Homeland Security Investigations in Fort Lauderdale led the investigation, while the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Source: TheGhanaReport | Read the Full Story…
