By Issah Olegor
Two Ghanaian twin brothers have pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in an international romance scam that defrauded victims of more than US$9 million, according to the US Department of Justice.
Jamal Abubakari and Kamal Abubakari, both 22, entered their guilty pleas on October 13, 2026, for their alleged involvement in a criminal network that targeted older Americans through dating websites and social media. The brothers reportedly operated under the aliases “Arrangement” and “Lancaster,” respectively.
Their co-conspirator, 53-year-old American woman Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, who has also been known as Amanda Joy Glum and Amanda Joy Kessei Bierman, pleaded guilty to the same offence on October 20, 2026.
According to US prosecutors, the network operated between July 2024 and April 2026, using fabricated identities and deceptive online relationships to gain the trust of victims. Some victims were led to believe they were developing genuine romantic relationships with people they had met online.
Investigators say the alleged scheme relied on emotional manipulation and false stories to convince victims to send money to bank accounts controlled by members of the network. The proceeds were subsequently transferred to other accomplices in Ghana and elsewhere, forming part of an international operation that crossed national borders.
The investigation established that victims across 25 US states were affected, while others were located in Germany and Austria. Among those reportedly targeted in the United States were residents of Edgerton in Williams County, northern Ohio.
The total losses attributed to the scheme exceeded US$9 million, highlighting the financial consequences of online romance fraud, particularly for older people who may be targeted through sustained attempts to establish trust and emotional connections.
As part of their plea agreements, the three defendants have agreed to forfeit jewellery seized during their arrests. The items include luxury watches, rings, chains, medallions and earrings, which form part of the property subject to forfeiture proceedings.
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 law enforcement agencies in both the United States and Ghana.
Several Ghanaian institutions contributed to the investigation, including the Attorney-General’s Office, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), 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 collaboration between the two countries underscores the importance of international cooperation in investigating cyber-enabled financial crimes, particularly schemes in which victims, perpetrators and the proceeds of fraud may be located in different jurisdictions.
Despite pleading guilty, the three defendants have yet to be sentenced. Each faces a maximum possible prison term of 20 years, although the final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant legal factors.
