Twin brothers from Ghana and a Hawaiian woman plead guilty to roles in $9m romance fraud targeting older Americans

Two Ghanaian twin brothers and an American woman from Hawaii have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with an alleged international romance scam network that defrauded victims of more than US$9 million.

The defendants, identified as Jamal Abubakari, 22, and Kamal Abubakari, 22, alongside 53-year-old Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie of Kula, Hawaii, admitted their involvement in the conspiracy in separate guilty pleas before a United States federal court.

According to the US Department of Justice, the brothers entered their guilty pleas on October 13, 2026, while Opoku-Boachie pleaded guilty on October 20, 2026.

The victims were predominantly older Americans who were allegedly deceived through fabricated online identities and romantic relationships. Other victims were located in Germany and Austria.

Court documents allege that the conspiracy operated from approximately July 2024 to April 2026, targeting older people through dating websites and social media platforms.

The defendants allegedly worked with other members of the criminal network to create fake online personas and establish close personal relationships with victims, often presenting the relationships as romantic.

After gaining the victims’ trust, the conspirators allegedly used fabricated stories to persuade them to send money through wire transfers to financial accounts controlled by members of the network.

Investigators said portions of the money were subsequently transferred to co-conspirators in Ghana and other locations.

Collectively, victims lost more than US$9 million through the scheme, according to the court documents.

In northern Ohio, victims included residents of Edgerton in Williams County. The alleged scheme also affected people in 24 other US states, as well as individuals in Germany and Austria.

As part of their guilty pleas, the Abubakari brothers and Opoku-Boachie agreed to forfeit jewellery and other valuables seized by investigators during their arrests.

The items included luxury watches and timepieces, rings, chains, medallions and earrings.

The forfeiture forms part of the proceedings arising from the investigation into the alleged international fraud network.

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland Division, with significant assistance from the US Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.

US Attorney David M. Toepfer acknowledged the contributions of several law enforcement and government agencies in Ghana and the United States.

Ghanaian institutions that assisted 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 (NACOC), the Financial Intelligence Centre, the Ghana Immigration Service and the National Intelligence Bureau.

Other agencies involved included the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s Sensitive Investigation Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, US Customs and Border Protection, the US Department of State, the FBI Washington Field Office and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra.

The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia also provided assistance.

Assistant US Attorneys Brian M. McDonough and Elliot Morrison are leading the prosecution in the Northern District of Ohio.

The involvement of agencies from both countries highlights the international cooperation required to investigate fraud schemes that use digital platforms, cross-border financial transfers and networks of associates operating in different jurisdictions.

Each defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

However, the maximum penalty is not an indication of the sentence each defendant will receive. A federal district court judge will determine the sentences after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other applicable statutory factors.

The Abubakari brothers are scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2027, while Opoku-Boachie’s sentencing is scheduled for February 10, 2027.

The case forms part of the US Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, which supports efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial fraud and scams targeting older people.

The initiative operates in connection with the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017, which provides a framework for strengthening enforcement and coordination against crimes affecting elderly Americans.

The case highlights the financial risks associated with online relationships in which fraudsters use fabricated identities and emotional manipulation to obtain money from unsuspecting victims.

Romance scams can involve requests for money under false pretences, including fabricated emergencies or other personal circumstances. Victims may be persuaded to transfer funds before discovering that the relationship or the stories used to obtain the money were deceptive.

The US case also illustrates how proceeds from online fraud can move across national borders, making cooperation between law enforcement agencies essential to investigations and prosecutions.