Ghanian National Sentenced To 13 Years In Prison For Heroin Distribution Conspiracy

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced George Frimpong Ebo-Amissah, a/k/a “Salifu Abdullah,” and “Wagba,” age 46, a Ghanian national, today to 13 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gary Tuggle of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Special Agent in Charge William Winter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to Ebo-Amissah’s plea agreement, beginning in 2011, Ebo-Amissah was one of the leaders of a conspiracy to distribute heroin in Maryland. Ebo-Amissah, who was living in Ghana, arranged couriers who would transport heroin on commercial flights to the United States. During the investigation, law enforcement intercepted telephone calls between Ebo-Amissah and Nana Boateng, a U.S. based heroin trafficker. Ebo-Amissah had numerous conversations with Boateng about importing heroin into the United States, including details about obtaining heroin in Ghana and how much a particular courier could bring to the United States.

On May 29, 2011, a courier that Ebo-Amissah had hired to bring heroin into the U.S. was stopped as she was coming off a flight from Ghana. Agents discovered approximately 3.3 kilograms of heroin in her suitcase. The courier called Ebo-Amissah for further instructions and Ebo-Amissah told her that she would receive a return call. Shortly thereafter Boateng called the courier unsuccessfully. At the time the courier was detained, investigators saw Boateng at the airport, apparently waiting for someone.

Nana Boateng, age 34, of Leesburg, Virginia, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to 84 months in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the DEA, Baltimore County Police Department and HSI Baltimore for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein also commended the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs for their assistance in Ebo-Amissah’s extradition from Ghana to the United States.

Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth S. Clark, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.