A federal court in Florida has sentenced Ghanaian-American Kelvin Owusu Nkwantabisa to 17 years in prison for orchestrating a US$38 million Business Email Compromise (BEC) fraud scheme that targeted businesses and individuals across the United States and other countries.

Nkwantabisa, 33, described by prosecutors as the leader of the U.S. arm of a transnational cybercrime syndicate, was convicted for his role in a sophisticated email fraud operation that siphoned millions of dollars from victims through deceptive business communications.

Court records showed that members of the criminal network infiltrated victims' email accounts and secretly monitored correspondence relating to business transactions and pending payments. The fraudsters then posed as trusted business contacts and redirected funds into accounts controlled by the syndicate.

Investigators said the group used multiple bank accounts and shell companies to conceal the source of stolen funds and avoid detection by law enforcement agencies.

According to prosecutors, Nkwantabisa, who also used the aliases Kevin Brown and KO, coordinated overseas accomplices, oversaw the creation of bank accounts in several states, monitored fraudulent wire transfers and directed the laundering of criminal proceeds.

His leadership role earned him the longest prison sentence among those convicted in the case.

Three other members of the network also received prison terms.

Leshea Moore, 29, of Georgia, was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison after admitting to establishing shell companies, opening fraudulent bank accounts and facilitating the movement of stolen funds.

John Jouissance, 33, of Ohio, received a four-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to setting up shell companies and bank accounts used to receive illicit proceeds.

Justice Amoh, 37, of New York, who operated under the alias Samuel Andrews, was sentenced to three years in prison for opening bank accounts using false identities and processing fraudulent transactions on Nkwantabisa's instructions.

Commenting on the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones said the defendants exploited legitimate business relationships and abused the trust of their victims to steal millions of dollars.

He said the convictions send a clear warning to individuals who seek to use the American financial system to facilitate fraud and money laundering.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Fort Lauderdale, while prosecutors from the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida led the prosecution.