Federal authorities in the United States have indicted two Ghanaian brothers and a U.S.-based woman over their alleged involvement in an elaborate romance fraud and money laundering network accused of targeting elderly Americans through online deception schemes.
The indictment, recently unsealed in Cleveland under the case United States v. Jamal Abubakari, et al., charges Jamal Abubakari, also known as “Arrangement,” Kamal Abubakari, also known as “Lancaster,” both aged 22, and Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, aged 53, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
According to prosecutors, all three suspects were arrested in Virginia and remain in custody pending further court proceedings.
Court documents allege that between July 2024 and April 2026, the accused persons participated in a sophisticated transnational criminal operation that preyed heavily on elderly victims across the United States through dating websites and social media platforms.
Investigators say the suspects and their accomplices allegedly created fake online identities and used emotional manipulation to establish close personal and romantic relationships with vulnerable victims. After gaining their trust, the victims were reportedly convinced to send large sums of money through wire transfers into accounts controlled by members of the criminal network.
Authorities further allege that portions of the fraud proceeds were transferred to co-conspirators based in Ghana and other foreign locations as part of a broader international money laundering operation.
The case forms part of an ongoing large-scale crackdown by U.S. federal authorities on organized romance fraud syndicates with alleged links to Ghana. Prosecutors disclosed that several related cases tied to the same network have already led to convictions, guilty pleas, and lengthy prison sentences.
In one related case, Frederick Kumi, also known as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng or “Abu Trica,” and Daniel Yussif, also known as “Denteni” or “Slab,” were charged in December 2025 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.
Several other individuals connected to related fraud operations have already been sentenced in U.S. courts after pleading guilty to similar offences.
Among them is Dwayne Asafo Adjei, a Ghanaian national sentenced to 71 months imprisonment and ordered to pay over 372 thousand dollars in restitution. Others include Nancy Adom, Eric Aidoo, Otuo Amponsah, and Anna Amponsah, who are all serving prison sentences linked to conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering offences.
Federal prosecutors say the investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Cleveland Division with support from multiple U.S. and Ghanaian security and intelligence agencies.
The international collaboration involved the Economic and Organised Crime Office, Ghana Police Service, Cyber Security Authority, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Financial Intelligence Centre, and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra, among several other institutions.
U.S. authorities emphasized that the indictment remains an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The prosecution is being conducted under the Elder Justice Initiative Programme, a U.S. government anti-fraud initiative established to combat elder abuse, financial exploitation, and online scams targeting elderly citizens.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe/Ahotoronline.com
