A federal court in Florida has sentenced Ghanaian-American Kelvin Owusu Nkwantabisa to 17 years in prison for orchestrating a $38 million Business Email Compromise (BEC) fraud scheme targeting victims across the United States and globally.

Nkwantabisa, 33, who also used the aliases Kevin Brown and KO, was identified by prosecutors as the leader of the United States arm of a transnational cybercrime network that defrauded businesses and individuals through sophisticated email scams.

According to court documents, members of the network gained unauthorised access to victims’ email accounts, monitoring communications related to business transactions and payments. The group then impersonated trusted partners to redirect funds into accounts under their control.

Investigators said the syndicate used multiple bank accounts and shell companies to launder proceeds and conceal the origin of stolen funds.

Prosecutors told the court that Nkwantabisa coordinated overseas accomplices, directed the creation of fraudulent bank accounts across several states, tracked incoming transfers and instructed co-conspirators on how to move illicit funds.

His central role in the operation earned him the longest sentence among those convicted in the case.

Three other members of the network were also sentenced. Leshea Moore, 29, of Georgia, received more than 11 years in prison after admitting to setting up shell companies and facilitating the movement of stolen funds.

John Jouissance, 33, of Ohio, was sentenced to four years for establishing bank accounts used to receive fraudulent proceeds.

Justice Amoh, 37, of New York, also known as Samuel Andrews, received a three-year sentence for opening accounts under false identities and processing transactions at Nkwantabisa’s direction.

Commenting on the case, Jason A. Reding Quiñones said the group exploited trust in legitimate business relationships to steal millions of dollars.

He added that the convictions send a strong message to those seeking to use the US financial system to facilitate fraud and money laundering.

The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations in Fort Lauderdale, while prosecutors from the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida handled the case.

Business Email Compromise schemes remain among the most costly forms of cybercrime globally, resulting in billions of dollars in losses annually.