Two Ghanaian twin brothers are facing up to 20 years in prison in the United States after pleading guilty to their involvement in an international romance fraud scheme that defrauded victims of more than $9 million.
Jamal Abubakari and Kamal Abubakari, both 22, entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on October 13, 2026, following an investigation into a criminal network that targeted older Americans through dating websites and social media.
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 October 20, according to the US Department of Justice.
The defendants allegedly participated in a scheme that operated between July 2024 and April 2026, using fabricated identities to establish relationships with victims before persuading them to send money under false pretences.
Court documents indicate that the perpetrators often presented the relationships as romantic connections, exploiting the trust developed with victims to obtain financial transfers into accounts controlled by members of the network.
Some of the proceeds were subsequently transferred to co-conspirators in Ghana and other locations.
The scheme affected victims across 25 US states, as well as Germany and Austria, with total financial losses exceeding $9 million. Some victims in northern Ohio were residents of Edgerton in Williams County.
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 case has involved cooperation between American and Ghanaian law enforcement agencies, reflecting the cross-border nature of the alleged criminal network.
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 institutions in Ghana and the United States.
Ghanaian agencies that supported the investigation include 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.
Each defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentences after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant legal factors.
The Abubakari brothers are scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2027, while Opoku-Boachie is expected to be sentenced the following day, February 10.
The case falls under the US Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, which coordinates efforts to combat financial fraud, abuse and scams targeting older people.
