Two Ghanaian brothers have pleaded guilty to their involvement in an international romance fraud scheme in the United States, which resulted in losses exceeding US$9 million.
The twins, 22-year-old Jamal Abubakari and Kamal Abubakari, admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on October 13, 2026. According to US authorities, they allegedly used the aliases Arrangement and Lancaster, respectively, to carry out their activities.
Their alleged accomplice, 53-year-old American Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, who also went by the names Amanda Joy Glum and Amanda Joy Kessei Bierman, pleaded guilty to the same charge a week later, on October 20.
The US Department of Justice says the three were linked to a criminal operation that targeted older people through dating websites and social media between July 2024 and April 2026.
Investigators say the suspects allegedly assumed false identities and developed personal relationships with their targets, sometimes convincing them that they were in genuine romantic partnerships.
They allegedly exploited the trust they established to solicit money using fabricated accounts of personal circumstances. The funds were transferred into accounts controlled by the network, with some of the proceeds reportedly sent to associates in Ghana and other countries.
Authorities say the operation affected victims in 25 states across the US, as well as Germany and Austria. Residents of Edgerton in Williams County, northern Ohio, were among those reportedly defrauded.
The financial losses attributed to the scheme are estimated at more than US$9 million.
As part of their plea agreements, the three defendants have agreed to forfeit jewellery recovered during their arrests, including expensive watches, rings, chains, medallions and earrings.
The investigation was coordinated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland Division, with assistance from the US Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and security agencies in Ghana and the United States.
Ghanaian agencies involved included the Attorney-General’s Office, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Police Service, the Cyber Security Authority, the Narcotics Control Commission, the Financial Intelligence Centre, the Ghana Immigration Service and the National Intelligence Bureau.
Each defendant could receive a prison sentence of up to 20 years. A federal judge will determine the sentences after considering the applicable sentencing guidelines and other relevant factors.
