Source: newsthemegh.com
US Marshals have detained Kelvin Nkwantabisa and Justice Amoh, two Ghanaian-American citizens, in Broward County, Florida, on suspicion of wire fraud.
A federal indictment made public on Friday states that the two and at least three other accomplices are accused of being part of a multi-million dollar scheme that targeted businesses in South Florida and worldwide by breaching their email systems, as reported by Chris Gothner of Local 10.
They might spend more than 30 years in prison if found guilty, along with the other conspirators.
The 31-year-old Atlanta resident Kelvin Nkwantabisa is accused of actively conspiring with Judge Amoh of the Bronx to swindle several people out of almost $7 million in different amounts over time.
Nkwantabisa, also known by the aliases “Kevin Brown” and “KO,” was charged with six federal offenses, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was kept behind bars at the Broward Main Jail throughout this time.
After completing their high school educations in Ghana, Amoh and Nkwantabisa emigrated to the United States, where the alleged crimes took place.
The Southern District of Florida is prosecuting the case, which also includes Judge Amoh, popularly known as “Samuel Andrews,” with additional charges.
John Jouissance of Canal Winchester, Ohio, and Leshea Moore, also known as “Deborah Green,” of Acworth, Georgia, are two more co-conspirators in the wire scam.
There are further unidentified co-conspirators on the federal indictment.
Co-conspirators allegedly broke into victims’ corporate email accounts “with the intention of monitoring and intercepting emails, especially those pertaining to wire transfers,” according to the indictment.
Prosecutors claim that the co-conspirators assumed the identity of reputable business associates and sent emails to the victims “containing false and fraudulent requests for payment and wire transfer instructions,” leading the victims to transfer funds to bank accounts under the group’s control.
The indictment lists five unnamed victims of the fraud, including an investor in Auckland, New Zealand, a company in Coral Springs, and a corporation in Suffolk, England.
More than $7 million was transferred by these organizations to bank accounts held by the quartet and other accomplices.
Prosecutors claim that the accused gang and their accomplices set up “shell companies and bank accounts in the names of those shell companies for the purpose of receiving stolen victim funds.”
Authorities claim that the fraud began in August 2022 and continued until March.
The indictment states that the Coral Springs business lost over $1.3 million as a result of this scam alone.
According to court records, Nkwantabisa made an appearance in federal court on Thursday in Fort Lauderdale. Next Thursday, a magistrate judge will hear his arraignment and detention hearing.
Sherri Romano, a Miami criminal defense lawyer, has been contacted by Local 10 News to inquire about the case.
Federal court documents also state that Amoh and Jouissance were detained this week in New York and Ohio, respectively. Authorities said on Friday that Moore was no longer in jail.