Two Ghanaian twin brothers and an American woman have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in an international romance scam that cost victims more than US$9 million, according to the United States Department of Justice. The brothers, Jamal Abubakari and Kamal Abubakari, both 22, entered their guilty pleas on October 13, 2026. Their co-defendant, 53-year-old Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, from Hawaii, pleaded guilty on October 20. Prosecutors said the group operated with other members of an international network between July 2024 and April 2026, targeting older people through dating websites and social media.
Using fake identities, the network allegedly built personal and romantic relationships with victims before persuading them to transfer money through fabricated stories. Some of the money was transferred to accounts controlled by members of the network, with portions sent to accomplices in Ghana and elsewhere. The scheme affected victims across 25 US states, as well as Germany and Austria. Ohio was the jurisdiction where the case was brought, and the FBI’s Cleveland Division led the investigation. As part of their plea agreements, the three defendants agreed to forfeit jewelery seized during their arrests, including luxury watches, rings, chains, medallions and earrings.
Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The brothers are scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2027, while Opoku-Boachie is due in court for sentencing on February 10.The investigation involved cooperation between US authorities and several Ghanaian agencies, including the Attorney-General’s Office, the Economic and Organized Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service and the Cyber Security Authority. The prosecution forms part of US efforts to combat financial fraud targeting older people. The case also highlights the importance of international law enforcement cooperation in tackling online scams that cross national borders.
