Two Ghanaian twin brothers have pleaded guilty in the United States for their involvement in a massive international romance fraud operation that allegedly defrauded elderly Americans and other victims of more than $9 million.
The brothers, Jamal Abubakari and Kamal Abubakari, both 22, admitted their roles in a criminal network accused of exploiting vulnerable individuals through fake romantic relationships on dating websites and social media platforms.
According to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday, October 26, 2026, the twins entered their guilty pleas on October 13, 2026, in a federal court case in Ohio.
A third defendant, Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, 53, of Kula, Hawaii, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on October 20.
Federal prosecutors revealed that the operation ran from approximately July 2024 to April 2026, targeting victims across 25 American states, as well as Germany and Austria.
Investigators say members of the syndicate created fake online identities to establish emotional and romantic connections with unsuspecting victims, many of whom were elderly.
Twin brothers from Ghana and an American woman have pleaded guilty to charges of being part of an international criminal network that devised romance fraud schemes to obtain money from victims who were mostly older Americans. Victims in northern Ohio resided in Edgarton in Williams County. Other victims resided in 24 other states and in Germany and Austria.
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@USDOJ_Intl— U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio (@NDOHnews) October 26, 2026
Once trust was established, victims were allegedly manipulated into transferring large sums of money to bank accounts controlled by members of the criminal network.
Some of the stolen funds were subsequently transferred to accomplices in Ghana and other locations.
The combined financial losses exceeded $9 million, according to federal authorities.
As part of their plea agreements, the three defendants agreed to surrender luxury items seized during their arrests, including expensive watches, jewelry, rings, chains and medallions.
The investigation was spearheaded by the FBI’s Cleveland Division, with assistance from several Ghanaian institutions, including the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service and Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority.
The U.S. Department of Justice also acknowledged cooperation between American and Ghanaian law enforcement agencies in uncovering the international fraud operation.
The twin brothers could each face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, although their actual punishments will be determined by a federal judge.
Sentencing for Jamal and Kamal Abubakari has been scheduled for February 9, 2027, while Opoku-Boachie will be sentenced on February 10, 2027.
The case highlights the growing international crackdown on romance scams targeting elderly victims through online deception.
As the three defendants await sentencing, authorities continue warning internet users against sending money to individuals they have only met through online romantic relationships.
