Twin brothers from Ghana and an American woman have pleaded guilty to their roles in an international romance scam that defrauded victims, mostly elderly Americans, of more than $9 million.
The brothers, Jamal Abubakari and Kamal Abubakari, both 22, and their co-conspirator, Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, 53, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fr@ud in October 2026.
According to court documents, the scheme ran from July 2024 to April 2026. The defendants allegedly used fake identities on dating websites and social media to establish close relationships with victims, often pretending to be romantically interested in them. They subsequently deceived the victims into transferring money to accounts controlled by members of the criminal network.
The victims were based in 25 U.S. states, including Ohio, as well as Germany and Austria. Some of the money obtained was allegedly transferred to co-conspirators in Ghana and other locations.
As part of their plea agreements, the defendants agreed to forfeit jewellery and luxury items seized during their arrests, including high-end watches, rings, chains, medallions and earrings.
Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The twin brothers are scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2027, while Opoku-Boachie is expected to be sentenced on February 10, 2027.