The court in Ohio heard that twin brothers Jamal and Kamal Abubakari, 22, and 53‑year‑old Amanda Joy Opoku‑Boachie from Hawaii have pleaded guilty to a romance scam that ripped $9 million from victims across the United States and Europe. The plea, entered in July 2024, means the three will face sentencing next year and could receive up to 20 years behind bars.
Prosecutors said the trio were members of an international criminal network that used dating sites and social‑media platforms to court primarily elderly people. By assuming false identities, they convinced victims that a genuine romantic relationship existed, then coaxed them into wiring large sums of money to bank accounts in Ghana. The scheme ran from July 2024 through April 2026, with losses reported in Ohio, 24 other US states, as well as Germany and Austria.
The twins, who also go by the aliases “Arrangement” and “Lancaster,” and Opoku‑Boachie, known online as “Amanda Joy Glum” and “Amanda Joy Kessei Bierman,” each faced a litany of charges. As part of the plea agreement, they agreed to surrender jewellery seized by investigators, including luxury watches, rings, chains and earrings. The forfeiture is intended to partially compensate the victims, although the total loss of $9 million remains a heavy burden for many families.
Federal authorities highlighted the broader context of a growing crackdown on romance‑based fraud emanating from West Africa. Earlier this month, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that hundreds of arrests had followed the dismantling of a scam centre in Ghana. The operation against the twins and Opoku‑Boachie is seen as a continuation of that effort, aiming to disrupt the pipelines that channel illicit funds from vulnerable seniors to accounts overseas.
The case also echoes a high‑profile extradition earlier in the year. Ghanaian social‑media influencer Frederick Kumi, popularly known as “Abu Trica,” was sent to the United States to stand trial for an alleged $8 million romance scam targeting elderly Americans. Kumi is being prosecuted under the US Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act, a law designed to strengthen penalties for crimes that exploit older adults. While Kumi maintains his innocence, his trial show the seriousness with which US law‑enforcement now treats these transnational fraud operations.
Legal experts note that the sentencing phase will likely consider both the monetary damage and the psychological harm inflicted on victims, many of whom were left financially destitute after trusting the scammers. The plea deals, however, avoid a lengthy trial and guarantee that the accused will forfeit assets already identified by investigators.
For the victims, the guilty pleas offer a measure of closure but do not erase the financial loss. Consumer‑protection agencies continue to advise seniors to verify the identity of online contacts, especially when requests for money arise. The Federal Trade Commission has warned that romance scams often involve elaborate stories of medical emergencies or travel difficulties, tactics that were reportedly used by the trio in this case.
The next step in the legal process will be the sentencing hearing scheduled for next year. Judges will decide the exact length of imprisonment and any additional restitution orders. Meanwhile, the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio has indicated that the forfeited jewellery will be auctioned, with proceeds directed toward victim compensation funds.
The developments signal a sustained effort by US and Ghanaian authorities to dismantle networks that prey on the elderly, a demographic increasingly targeted by sophisticated online fraud. As more cases come to light, the hope among law‑enforcement officials is that heightened awareness and stricter enforcement will deter future romance scams and protect vulnerable citizens from similar exploitation.
