Two Ghanaian twin brothers and their US accomplice have pleaded guilty to running an international romance fraud that cheated elderly victims of over $9 million.
Jamal Abubakari and Kamal Abubakari, both 22, who also used the aliases Arrangement and Lancaster, entered their plea on October 13. Their co-defendant, 53-year-old Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie from Kula, Hawaii, pleaded guilty on October 20 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
Prosecutors said the trio were part of a larger network that targeted older Americans on dating sites and social media between July 2024 and April 2026. They created fake personas, built romantic relationships with victims, and then tricked them with stories of medical emergencies, travel costs and investment opportunities to get them to wire money.
The money went into accounts controlled by the network, with part of the proceeds sent to accomplices in Ghana and other countries.
In total, victims in 25 US states, including Williams County in Ohio, as well as in Germany and Austria, lost more than $9 million. Prosecutors said many victims were left with nothing after a lifetime of saving.
As part of the plea deal, the three agreed to forfeit luxury jewelry seized during their arrest, including watches, chains, rings and medallions.
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