Dada Joe Remix pleads guilty in US$4.4m romance fraud case

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A Ghanaian businessman popularly known as “Dada Joe Remix”, extradited to the United States, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in a decade-long romance and inheritance fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims across the United States, agreeing to pay about US$4.4 million in restitution ahead of sentencing in September.

TUCSON, Arizona — A Ghanaian businessman extradited to the United States has pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in a decade-long romance and inheritance fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims across the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, popularly known as “Dada Joe Remix”, entered the guilty plea after being extradited from Ghana in June 2025. Under a plea agreement, he admitted participating in the conspiracy, agreed to pay approximately US$4.4 million in restitution and is scheduled to be sentenced on 8 September 2026 before U.S. District Judge Angela M. Martinez. The court will determine the final sentence at that hearing.

Federal prosecutors said the conspiracy operated between 2013 and March 2023, targeting elderly victims through online dating websites, text messages and other electronic communications. According to court documents, members of the conspiracy developed online relationships with victims before falsely claiming they had inherited gold or jewellery that required taxes, shipping fees or other payments before release.

The guilty plea follows an international investigation involving authorities in both Ghana and the United States.

The U.S. Department of Justice said the investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Phoenix Division’s Sierra Vista Office, with support from 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 U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs. Boateng was arrested in Ghana on 27 May 2025 before being extradited to the United States the following month, where he has remained in custody.

According to the plea agreement, the conspiracy defrauded at least 18 victims, with individual losses ranging from US$12,000 to US$1.5 million. Total losses attributed to the scheme were estimated at approximately US$4.4 million, which Boateng has agreed to repay through restitution as part of the plea agreement.

Ghanaian national Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, also known as “Dada Joe Remix,” has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in a U.S. court. Extradited from Ghana to the United States in June 2025, Boateng admitted to defrauding… pic.twitter.com/uwlJx9NDi1
— U.S. Embassy Accra (@USEmbassyGhana) July 1, 2026

How Ghana and US investigators built the case

The investigation illustrates the growing importance of international cooperation in tackling cyber-enabled financial crime.

Authorities said the case relied on intelligence sharing, financial investigations, digital evidence and coordinated legal processes across multiple jurisdictions before the extradition request was executed. The collaboration between Ghanaian and U.S. agencies reflects the increasingly transnational nature of online financial crime, where suspects, victims, financial transactions and electronic evidence frequently span several countries. The extradition was supported by multiple Ghanaian institutions alongside U.S. authorities, highlighting the expanding role of international partnerships in investigating complex cyber-enabled fraud schemes.

Ghanaian national Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, popularly known as “Dada Joe Remix,” has pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in a multi-million-dollar romance and inheritance scam that targeted elderly victims across the country.

Understanding the plea agreement

Under the U.S. federal criminal justice system, a plea agreement is a negotiated arrangement between prosecutors and a defendant. A defendant agrees to plead guilty to specified charges, while prosecutors may make recommendations regarding sentencing or other aspects of the case. However, the sentencing judge retains the authority to determine the final sentence and is not bound by every aspect of the agreement reached between the parties.

Why romance scams remain a global threat

Romance and inheritance scams remain among the most financially damaging forms of online fraud worldwide. Criminals often establish long-term online relationships with victims before persuading them to transfer money under false pretences, exploiting trust, loneliness and fabricated emergencies.

Law enforcement agencies increasingly cooperate across borders because these schemes frequently involve victims, suspects, financial institutions and digital infrastructure located in multiple countries. The case demonstrates how international investigations can combine digital forensics, financial intelligence and extradition procedures to pursue suspects accused of major financial crimes.

Boateng remains in federal custody pending sentencing. The restitution agreement forms part of his guilty plea, while the court will determine the final sentence during the September hearing.

A Ghanaian extradited to the United States has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a US$4.4 million romance fraud case targeting elderly victims.

Case at a Glance

Defendant Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng

Offence admitted Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Sentencing 8 September 2026

Timeline

2013

Prosecutors say the conspiracy began.

March 2023

Alleged conspiracy ended, according to court documents.

27 May 2025

Boateng arrested in Ghana under a U.S. extradition warrant.

June 2025

Extradited to the United States.

July 2026

Pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court.

8 September 2026

Sentencing scheduled.

Case details

Court U.S. District Court, District of Arizona

Restitution Approximately US$4.4 million

Victims At least 18

Known as “Dada Joe Remix”

Investigation FBI, U.S. Department of Justice, EOCO, Ghana Police INTERPOL Unit and Ghanaian justice authorities

Why this matters

The case demonstrates the growing ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cyber-enabled financial crime across national borders. It also underscores the importance of international judicial cooperation, digital forensic investigations and extradition agreements in tackling online fraud schemes that target vulnerable victims in multiple countries.