TL;DR: Twin brothers from Ghana and a Hawaii woman have pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in an international romance scam that took more than $9 million from more than 130 victims, most of them elderly Americans.
Twin brothers from Ghana and an American woman have pleaded guilty to taking part in an international romance scam that bilked dozens of victims, most of them elderly Americans, out of more than $9 million, USA Today reported on Oct. 26, 2026, citing the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
Jamal and Kamal Abubakari, both 22, of Ghana, and Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, 53, of Kula, Hawaii, pleaded guilty this month to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Each faces a maximum federal term of 20 years at sentencing, scheduled for February.
The fraud took place from July 2024 to April 2026, with victims spread across 25 U.S. states as well as in Germany and Austria. In all, more than 130 victims were defrauded, federal authorities said.
How the romance scam worked
According to court documents cited by USA Today, the defendants used dating websites and social media platforms to build personal and often romantic relationships with their victims, in some cases using artificial-intelligence-driven video to remotely interact with them under fake personas.
Swayed by false stories from people they had not actually met in person, the victims wired money to financial accounts controlled by third-party co-conspirators. The purposes for which the defendants said they needed funds included medical emergencies, investment opportunities or travel costs to visit the victims, documents said.
What victims lost, and what was seized
Prosecutors said victims report being left with absolutely nothing to sustain their lives going forward after a lifetime of work and saving, and that individual victims are ashamed and deprived of the trust they once had in other people. That human cost, prosecutors said, is all-encompassing, reaching far beyond the dollar total.
As part of their plea agreements, the three defendants forfeited jewellery seized by investigators during their arrests, including luxury timepieces, rings, earrings, medallions and chains. Other co-conspirators are awaiting extradition from Ghana, where seized assets included a Lamborghini, a Mercedes-Benz, a BMW and a Tesla Cybertruck, federal authorities said.
Aliases and the wider network
Jamal Abubakari, also known as Jamal Abubakar, was also known as Arrangement, court documents said, while Kamal Abubakari, also known as Kamal Abubakar, went by the name Lancaster. Opoku-Boachie had several aliases including Amanda Joy Glum and Amanda Joy Kessei Bierman, according to the report.
The use of multiple aliases and fake personas is typical of romance fraud networks, which often operate across borders and rely on money mules and third-party accounts to move victims’ funds. That structure is also why extradition and international cooperation matter: the people who built the personas may be in one country while the money moves through another.
Why elderly victims are targeted, and how to stay safe
The case is being conducted under the Elder Justice Initiative Program created by the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017, designed to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial fraud and other scams targeting older people. Romance scammers often target older adults who may be lonely, trusting, or less familiar with AI-driven video fakery.
Safety advice from fraud investigators is consistent: never send money to someone you have met only online, be sceptical of urgent medical or travel emergencies from a new romantic partner, and talk to a trusted family member or bank before wiring funds. If a romance turns into a request for money, that request itself is the warning sign.
Featured image: representative scene photo, not a photo of the people or the exact location in this case. Image source: courtroom photo
Sources: USA Today, citing U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pleaded guilty?
Jamal and Kamal Abubakari, both 22, of Ghana, and Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, 53, of Kula, Hawaii.
What did they plead guilty to?
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in October 2026, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
How much was taken?
More than $9 million in money and other items, from more than 130 victims.
Who were the victims?
Mostly elderly Americans, spread across 25 U.S. states, plus victims in Germany and Austria.
When did the fraud run?
From July 2024 to April 2026.
What sentence could they face?
Each faces a maximum federal term of 20 years, with sentencing scheduled for February.
What was seized?
Jewellery including luxury timepieces, rings, earrings, medallions and chains from the three defendants, plus a Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Tesla Cybertruck seized in Ghana from co-conspirators.
