Ghanaian twins plead guilty in US$9m international romance scam

Two Ghanaian twin brothers have pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in an international romance scam that caused victims to lose more than US$9 million. Jamal Abubakari and Kamal Abubakari, both 22, entered their guilty pleas on October 13, 2026. They allegedly operated under the aliases Arrangement and Lancaster, respectively. 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 offence on October 20. According to the US Department of Justice, the three were involved in a criminal network that targeted older Americans through dating websites and social media between July 2024 and April 2026. The group allegedly created false identities to build close relationships with victims, presenting some of the interactions as romantic relationships. They then used fabricated stories to persuade the victims to transfer money into accounts controlled by members of the network, with some of the proceeds sent to accomplices in Ghana and elsewhere. The scheme affected victims in 25 US states, as well as Germany and Austria. Some of those affected in northern Ohio were residents of Edgerton in Williams County. The total financial losses exceeded US$9 million. 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 investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland Division, with support from the US Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and law enforcement agencies in Ghana and the United States. Ghanaian agencies involved included 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 prison sentence of 20 years. A federal district court judge will determine the final sentences after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant legal factors.