Nana Kwabena Amuah, a Ghanaian national currently serving a prison sentence in the United States, has become the focus of renewed public attention following the recent seizure of musician Shatta Wale’s Lamborghini Urus by Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
The controversy erupted after EOCO, acting on intelligence from the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice, raided Shatta Wale’s residence and confiscated the luxury SUV, which has been linked to a transnational fraud ring. In response, Shatta Wale took to TikTok Live, denying any wrongdoing and distancing himself from the alleged car theft.
During the live session, the dancehall star claimed he had purchased the Lamborghini for $150,000 from Kwabena Adu-Boahene, the former head of Ghana’s National Signals Bureau (NSB), but insisted he had no dealings with Nana Kwabena Amuah, who has been identified as a central figure in the fraud case.
The Man Behind the Scheme
Kwabena Amuah, 33 years old, is currently serving an 86-month (over 7 years) prison sentence in the U.S. after pleading guilty to a large-scale fraud scheme that defrauded nearly 70 victims. According to documents from the U.S. Department of Justice, over $4.6 million was stolen in total, with 60 victims suffering direct financial losses.
The fraud operation began in 2021, when Amuah instructed his co-conspirator, Shimea McDonald, to open multiple bank accounts using fake identities. McDonald allegedly acquired false identification documents crafted from real individuals’ information and set up shell companies to create bank accounts where stolen funds were funneled.
Once the funds were deposited, Amuah would alert McDonald and direct her to send him the money, after she kept a share for herself. Amuah would then distribute the stolen funds to other members of the fraud network, each taking their cut while pushing the money through various channels to conceal its origin.
Impersonation of a Non-Profit
One of the most notable instances of fraud occurred in August 2022, when Amuah and his team impersonated a non-profit organization conducting business with the City of Lexington. Through email deception, they managed to convince a city official to wire $3.9 million to a fake company account at Truist Bank, believing it was owed to the legitimate nonprofit.
According to the DOJ report:
“Conspirators impersonated a nonprofit organization and convinced a City of Lexington official to wire a total of $3,905,837.05 to a shell company account.”
Amuah was eventually arrested, pleaded guilty in 2021, and was sentenced in 2023. He was also ordered to pay $4 million in restitution.
Connection to Shatta Wale’s Lamborghini
Amid the ongoing investigation, it has emerged that the 2019 Lamborghini Urus seized from Shatta Wale is believed to have been shipped by Amuah as part of the proceeds of the fraud. While Shatta Wale insists his purchase was legitimate and that he had no prior knowledge of the vehicle’s origin, EOCO has named him, along with Adu-Boahene, as a person of interest in the probe.
The case continues to unfold, sparking debate on social media and raising concerns about high-profile figures unknowingly—or knowingly—entangled in international financial crimes.
