Ghanaian twin brothers and a 53-year-old American woman have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in an international romance scam that caused victims to lose more than $9 million, according to the United States Department of Justice.
Jamal Abubakari, also known as Jamal Abubakar and “Arrangement,” 22, and his twin brother, Kamal Abubakari, also known as Kamal Abubakar and “Lancaster,” 22, pleaded guilty on October 13, 2026. Their co-conspirator, Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, also known as Amanda Joy Glum and Amanda Joy Kessei Bierman, 53, of Kula, Hawaii, pleaded guilty on October 20, 2026.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced the pleas on October 26, marking a significant development in a case involving victims across the United States, Germany and Austria.
According to court documents, the defendants participated in a criminal network that targeted mostly older Americans through dating websites and social media platforms between July 2024 and April 2026.
The group allegedly created fake online identities to establish close personal relationships with victims, often presenting the interactions as romantic relationships. Once trust had been established, victims were allegedly persuaded to send money after being given fabricated stories.
The money was transferred through wire transfers to financial accounts controlled by members of the network. Portions of the proceeds were subsequently sent to co-conspirators in Ghana and elsewhere.
Investigators identified victims in 24 other US states, in addition to those in northern Ohio, as well as Germany and Austria. In Ohio, the victims included residents of Edgerton in Williams County.
As part of their guilty pleas, the three defendants agreed to forfeit jewellery seized by investigators during their arrests. The items included luxury watches, rings, chains, medallions and earrings.
The case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division, with assistance from US and Ghanaian authorities, including Ghana’s Attorney General’s Office, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Financial Intelligence Centre.
The defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. However, the final penalties will be determined by a federal judge after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.
The Abubakari brothers are scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2027, while Opoku-Boachie is due to appear for sentencing on February 10.
The prosecution forms part of efforts under the US Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative to address financial exploitation, fraud and scams targeting older people.
The case highlights how romance fraud schemes can exploit online relationships to obtain money from victims across international borders, with investigators tracing the alleged movement of funds between the United States, Ghana and other locations.
