Three people have pleaded guilty to taking part in a romance-fraud operation that prosecutors say used dating websites, social media and fabricated personal relationships to take more than $9 million from dozens of victims, most of them older Americans.
Jamal and Kamal Abubakari, twin brothers from Ghana, and Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie of Kula, Hawaii, admitted in October 2026 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. The alleged scheme ran from July 2024 through April 2026 and reached victims in 25 U.S. states, as well as Germany and Austria.
How the alleged scheme worked
According to court documents, the defendants used online platforms to create personal relationships with people they had not met in person. In some instances, the documents say, artificial-intelligence-driven video allowed participants to interact with victims remotely while using false identities.
The victims were persuaded to send money to financial accounts controlled by other participants in the operation. The requests were tied to stories about medical emergencies, investment opportunities or travel expenses supposedly needed to visit the victims. The case involved money and other property, prosecutors said.
- Victims: Dozens of people, primarily older Americans
- Geographic reach: 25 U.S. states, Germany and Austria
- Alleged losses: More than $9 million in money and other items
- Online methods: Dating sites, social media and, in some cases, AI-driven video
“The consequences of this conduct are all-encompassing. Victims report that they are left with absolutely nothing to sustain their lives going forward after a lifetime of work and saving. In addition, individual victims are ashamed and deprived of the trust they once had in their fellow human beings.” — Prosecutors
Arrests and forfeiture
The Abubakari brothers were arrested in Virginia in May 2026, according to the Justice Department. Investigators seized jewelry during the arrests, including luxury timepieces. Under their plea agreement, all three defendants forfeited that jewelry.
| Development | Reported details |
|---|---|
| Charges | Conspiracy to commit wire fraud |
| Plea timing | October 2026 |
| Alleged conduct period | July 2024 to April 2026 |
| Arrests | May 2026 in Virginia for the twin brothers |
The defendants’ admissions came after investigators tied the operation to victims across multiple countries. The allegations described in the case show how fraudsters can use sustained online contact and urgent financial narratives rather than a single payment request. The Justice Department said the victims’ losses included savings accumulated over their working lives.
The guilty pleas resolve the defendants’ responsibility for the conspiracy charge through the federal criminal process. The plea agreement also addresses property seized during the investigation. The Northern District of Ohio U.S. Attorney’s Office described the impact on victims as extending beyond the financial losses to the trust and security they had placed in the relationships.
