Three people pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a case where victims, mostly older Americans, lost more than $9 million, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said Oct. 26.
Jamal Abubakari and Kamal Abubakari, twin brothers, each 22, pleaded guilty Oct. 13. Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, 53, of Kula, Hawaii, pleaded guilty Oct. 20.
The DOJ summary of court allegations says the defendants and others used invented online identities to cultivate personal ties with victims from about July 2024 through April 2026. Dating sites and social media provided the contact points, prosecutors said. Victims then wired money to accounts controlled by members of the conspiracy, with some proceeds sent to associates in Ghana and elsewhere.
The Justice Department identified victims in northern Ohio, 24 other U.S. states, Germany and Austria. Its Oct. 26 announcement did not state how many victims were tied to the pleas.
A June DOJ account covered a broader alleged operation involving the three defendants and two additional Ghanaian men awaiting extradition. That account cited more than 130 U.S. victims and losses above $15 million, and said the alleged operation used AI-driven video platforms. The releases do not explain how the broader figures relate to the more-than-$9-million figure in the plea announcement.
DOJ said the case was part of its Elder Justice Initiative, which originated with the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017. The FBI’s Cleveland Division led the investigation, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and U.S. and Ghanaian law-enforcement partners.
The defendants agreed to forfeit jewelry seized by investigators, including watches, rings, chains, medallions and earrings. Each faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. The brothers are due back in court for sentencing on Feb. 9, 2027, followed by Opoku-Boachie the next day.
