Ghanaian twin brothers Jamal Abubakari and Kamal Abubakari have pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in an international romance scam that caused victims to lose more than $9 million.
The 22-year-olds, who used the aliases Arrangement and Lancaster respectively, entered their guilty pleas on 13 October 2026.
Their co-conspirator, 53-year-old American woman Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, also known as Amanda Joy Glum and Amanda Joy Kessei Bierman, pleaded guilty to the same charge on 20 October 2026.
According to the US Department of Justice, the defendants were part of an international criminal network that targeted older Americans through dating websites and social media platforms between July 2024 and April 2026.
Court documents indicate that the group used fake identities to establish close personal relationships with victims, often portraying them as romantic relationships. The victims were then deceived with fabricated stories and persuaded to transfer money into financial accounts controlled by members of the network.
Some of the proceeds were subsequently channelled to co-conspirators in Ghana and other locations.
The scheme affected victims across 25 US states, as well as Germany and Austria. In northern Ohio, some victims were residents of Edgerton in Williams County.
The combined losses suffered by the victims exceeded $9 million.
As part of their plea agreements, the three defendants have agreed to forfeit jewellery seized during their arrests, including luxury watches, rings, chains, medallions and earrings.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland Division, with assistance from the US Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and several law enforcement agencies in Ghana and the United States.
Ghanaian institutions that supported the investigation include the Attorney-General’s Office, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service, the Cyber Security Authority, the Narcotics Control Commission, the Financial Intelligence Centre, the Ghana Immigration Service and the National Intelligence Bureau.
The defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine their sentences after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant legal factors.
The Abubakari brothers are scheduled to be sentenced on 9 February 2027, while Opoku-Boachie is expected to appear for sentencing on 10 February 2027.
The case forms part of the US Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, which coordinates efforts to combat financial fraud, abuse and scams targeting older people.
