Federal prosecutors say a 63-year-old Maryland man was not looking for love so much as looking for wire transfers. On March 25, authorities arrested Kwame Boahene in connection with what they describe as a multimillion-dollar romance-fraud operation that allegedly ensnared victims across the country, including one in Delaware. Court filings say Boahene is charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and that the alleged ring moved several millions of dollars through U.S. and international accounts to hide the money’s trail.
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, court documents allege Boahene and unnamed co-conspirators created fake online personas, built what looked like genuine romantic relationships, and then persuaded victims to send money. The supposed emergencies ranged from “helping to ensure an inheritance” to covering medical bills that prosecutors say were entirely fabricated. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware alleges Boahene used bank accounts opened in the names of limited liability companies to receive the cash, then routed it through domestic and international accounts to conceal where it came from. He was arrested in Maryland on March 25, according to the outlet.
How prosecutors say the scheme worked
Romance scams typically do not start with a hard sell. Investigators say scammers often spend weeks or months chatting online, building trust and emotional dependence before introducing money into the conversation. Once they think the hook is set, the tone shifts to urgent requests for cash that sound just plausible enough to pass as real.
The FBI's IC3 annual report for 2024 recorded more than $672 million in reported losses tied to confidence and romance scams, with adults 60 and older submitting the most complaints and suffering the largest losses, according to the IC3 annual report. Those reports note that scammers frequently insist on payment by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards, all methods that are notoriously difficult to trace and even harder to recover once the money is gone.
Charges and legal outlook
Boahene faces federal counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, charges that come with serious potential punishment. Per NBC10 Philadelphia, each count carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if he is convicted.
The federal wire-fraud statute, 18 U.S.C., as summarized by the Legal Information Institute, sets a standard maximum penalty of 20 years and allows for higher maximums in certain cases that affect financial institutions or involve disasters.
What’s next
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware and will move through federal court procedures. As the investigation develops, prosecutors may pursue indictments, forfeiture of assets, or restitution for victims. Cases like this often involve additional co-conspirator charges and painstaking financial tracing through webs of domestic and overseas accounts. Key milestones to watch for include formal arraignment dates and new filings posted to the federal court docket or released in official statements.
Protecting yourself and others
Authorities urge anyone who suspects they or a loved one has been targeted by a romance scam to report it. Complaints can be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud and through the FBI's IC3 portal. The FTC's consumer guidance on romance scams advises people not to send money to someone they have only met online and to stay away from gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers as payment methods. Officials also say contacting your bank and local law enforcement quickly can help limit the damage while investigators work to trace and, if possible, recover stolen funds.
